US stockpiles of ballistic missiles and ammunition have fallen by 50% amid the war with Iran.

Desk. America’s stockpile of ballistic missiles and ammunition has been reduced by half while fighting Iran. Iran’s Press TV has quoted a report saying that during the last seven weeks of war against Iran, the US military has used up at least 45 percent of its precision strike missiles, at least half of its stock of THAAD missiles and about 50% of its stock of Patriot air defense interceptor missiles. Meanwhile, US military officials have also asked for a bigger defense budget for 2027, which confirms this claim.

US military officials on Tuesday called for billions of dollars in spending in the next budget year on drones, air defense systems and fighter jets that have played a key role in the Iran war, according to reports. As part of President Donald Trump’s effort to boost defense spending to $1.5 trillion in the 2027 budget, the Pentagon is seeking a tripling of spending on drones and related technology to more than $74 billion, and more than $30 billion for key munitions, including missile interceptors.

The Pentagon has also acknowledged that ammunition stocks have become alarmingly low during the Iran war. Military officials said this spending plan was prepared before the conflict in the Middle East began. They also did not specify how much additional funds they would request for the war, which would be separate from the White House’s proposal to increase defense spending in the next budget year. “You’ll notice there’s overlap in the ammunition demands, which we always need,” Jules Hurst III, acting undersecretary of defense and Pentagon comptroller, told reporters. “We always have to increase our magazine depth. But other than that, this doesn’t include any operational expenses related to Iran.”

The missile interceptors under the greatest pressure are the Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) air defense systems. The THAAD system is designed to destroy medium-range ballistic missiles, while the Patriot system is used to shoot down short-range ballistic missiles and manned aircraft. However, both have also been used to shoot down inexpensive Iranian drones. The $30 billion budget item also targets the purchase of long-range Precision Strike Missiles and Mid-Range Capability Missile Systems used by the US military.

The Pentagon in its budget proposal has requested about $54 billion for military drones and related technology and $21 billion for weapon systems to shoot down enemy drones. Drones and other unmanned vehicles have emerged as a major weapon in the Ukraine and Iran wars. Top Pentagon officials say the US will need to significantly increase funding for both drone and counter-drone systems. Hurst said drone warfare is rapidly changing the modern battlefield. This budget is the largest investment in drone warfare and counter-drone technology in US history.

The Pentagon has also proposed hiring 44,500 additional troops (up 2%) under the 2027 budget. It also plans to spend more than $2 billion on the US-Mexico border and make the largest shipbuilding request since 1962. A significant increase in the Navy’s Tomahawk missiles is being sought. Officials said the budget was drafted before the Iran campaign began, but it reflects a significant increase in the number of missiles used in the conflict. The most dramatic increase is the Navy’s purchase of Tomahawk cruise missiles, up from 55 missiles last year to 785 missiles in this year’s budget. This long-range cruise missile is used heavily in Iran, raising concerns among experts that the military is not replenishing them as quickly as it is being used.