US plans to rebuild depleted nuclear arsenal after Iran conflict

US Munitions Stockpiles to Take at Least Two Years to Replenish

A new report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has found that restoring pre-war stockpiles of critical US munitions will take at least two years. The report states that four key munitions, including the Land Attack Missile, Terminal High Altitude Area Defences interceptors, Patriot missiles, and ship-based surface-to-air missiles, have been depleted to more than half their pre-war inventory levels.

According to CSIS, replenishing these stockpiles will require time due to limited manufacturing capacity, long procurement lead times, and relatively low past procurement levels. The report notes that decisions on how to allocate new production have already created bilateral friction, which is expected to continue for several years as demand outpaces supply.

The Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) are expected to take several months to a year to replace. The CSIS report also warns that the main problem is not funding but production time, which will create a window of vulnerability for several years until inventories return to their previous levels.

US officials have publicly projected confidence in their weapons stockpiles, but analysts suggest that dwindling munition supplies may be shaping Washington’s calculations over whether to resume the war on Iran. The report also notes that US combat experience in recent conflicts may help preserve deterrence against China during the replenishment period.

The CSIS report highlights the challenges of replenishing depleted munitions stockpiles, which will require time and resources. The findings are based on data from past procurement levels and production capacity.

Source: Al Jazeera