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Stockpiles

All articles tagged with #stockpiles

Trump defends munitions stockpiles, attacks media over Iran war coverage
world1 day ago

Trump defends munitions stockpiles, attacks media over Iran war coverage

President Trump attacked media coverage of US munitions shortages in the Iran war, claiming production is at “levels never seen before” and stockpiles are more than enough. Independent experts note shortages in key weapons—Patriot and THAAD interceptors, Tomahawks, JASSMs, and PrSMs—and warn replenishment could take years, potentially weakening deterrence. The report also highlights Trump’s pattern of pressuring regulators and targeting outlets over coverage.

Trump disputes munitions-shortage reports as analysts warn long rebuild timelines
defense1 day ago

Trump disputes munitions-shortage reports as analysts warn long rebuild timelines

Trump labeled reports of a munitions shortage 'treasonous' while CSIS and defense officials warn that multiple stockpiles—Patriot, THAAD, Tomahawk, ATACMS/PrSM, JASSM and sea-based interceptors SM-3/SM-6—have fallen due to the Iran war, with replenishment not expected to reach prewar levels for years (roughly 2026–2031 for several systems), raising questions about U.S. and allied defense readiness.

U.S. long-range missiles nearly exhausted amid Iran conflict, sparking readiness concerns
world1 month ago

U.S. long-range missiles nearly exhausted amid Iran conflict, sparking readiness concerns

Reuters reports, citing anonymous sources, that the U.S. has virtually exhausted its stocks of long-range precision missiles—ATACMS and PrSM—during the five-month war with Iran, a depletion that could affect deterrence against rivals like Russia and China. The article also notes dwindling defensive stocks (Patriot interceptors, THAAD) and substantial use of Tomahawk missiles, while the White House and defense contractors say production is rising and overall munitions levels remain strong.

Poland cites Kh-101 fragment to argue Russia produces missiles in real time as stockpiles dwindle
world1 month ago

Poland cites Kh-101 fragment to argue Russia produces missiles in real time as stockpiles dwindle

Poland’s defense minister said fragments of a Russian Kh-101 found in the Lublin region were manufactured in Q2 2026 near Moscow, indicating Russia is firing missiles produced in real time and that its stockpiles are depleted; investigators, including Military Police, are continuing their examination, and Warsaw vows to maintain support for Ukraine.

Pentagon seeks nearly $70B more for Iran war as stockpiles dwindle
world1 month ago

Pentagon seeks nearly $70B more for Iran war as stockpiles dwindle

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate Appropriations Committee the Iran war has cost about $37.5 billion so far and that roughly $67 billion more is needed to sustain operations, nearly doubling the current funding; the White House had previously sought about $87.6 billion for 2026–27. Stockpiles of key munitions—Patriots, THAADs, SM-3s, and PrSMs—are at or below 50% of prewar levels, prompting replenishment, procurement, and maintenance costs. The conflict has produced casualties, sent oil prices higher, and contributed to inflation and rising interest rates, with the 2027 defense budget poised to set a new spending record if approved.

China’s Stockpiles Could Drive the Next Oil Rally, Not the Middle East
energy1 month ago

China’s Stockpiles Could Drive the Next Oil Rally, Not the Middle East

OilPrice.com argues that China’s massive crude inventories and strategic stockpiling allowed refiners to meet domestic demand while imports fell during the Iran conflict, shifting Gulf cargoes to other buyers and stabilizing prices. As Beijing times its purchases around these stockpiles, China’s inventory dynamics could become the key driver of the next oil rally—potentially more influential than Middle East production or OPEC capacity—while Iran’s exports face constraints and floating cargoes remain unsold.

CSIS: U.S. Weapon Stockpiles Depleted, Rebuild Could Take Years
defense3 months ago

CSIS: U.S. Weapon Stockpiles Depleted, Rebuild Could Take Years

CSIS warns that Operation Epic Fury against Iran drained major U.S. munitions categories (TLAMs, THAAD, Patriot, SM-3/SM-6, JASSMs, PrSM), with replenishment taking years due to production limits and foreign sales; pre-war inventories were sizable but heavily drawn down, prompting pauses in arms shipments to Taiwan and raising concerns about readiness for potential conflicts with China, North Korea, and beyond as the Defense Department workflows and budgets aim to restore stocks by the late 2020s.

Iran War Deepens Global Missile-Defense Shortage for Years
world3 months ago

Iran War Deepens Global Missile-Defense Shortage for Years

A CSIS analysis warns the Iran war is draining U.S. missile interceptors faster than they can be replaced, likely leaving stockpiles unreplenished until 2029 and stressing allies from Ukraine to Taiwan. The U.S. used more than 1,000 interceptors in the Iran conflict in fiscal 2026, while delivering just 172 Patriot interceptors; to close the gap, the Pentagon has pushed production increases with Lockheed Martin (THAAD), Boeing (PAC-3 seekers), and RTX (SM-6), and is weighing cheaper options as stockpile shortages linger. Decision-making over what to shoot down and with which munition remains costly and high-stakes for U.S. defenses and partners.

CSIS says U.S. munitions rebound after Iran conflict will take years
defense3 months ago

CSIS says U.S. munitions rebound after Iran conflict will take years

A CSIS analysis estimates that following the 38-day Iran campaign, the United States will need several years to restore key munitions inventories to prewar levels, with Tomahawk stockpiles potentially back by 2030–2031 and THAAD interceptors by 2029–2030. While current stocks are deemed sufficient for plausible scenarios, the report warns of a multi-year window of vulnerability as production capacity is expanded to close the gap.

Four drivers kept the energy crisis from exploding — for now
energy3 months ago

Four drivers kept the energy crisis from exploding — for now

The Conversation AU reports that despite warnings of the worst energy crisis from the US–Iran conflict, four factors kept shocks at bay: markets subdued by expectations the war would end soon, other producers boosting exports, demand falling as prices rose, and large stockpile releases filling the gap. However, supplies remain tight, stockpiles are near multi‑year lows, and if the conflict drags on, a true global energy crunch could return—especially as the US heads into peak driving season.

Hegseth presses for second Pentagon review of Kelly over stockpile remarks
politics3 months ago

Hegseth presses for second Pentagon review of Kelly over stockpile remarks

Sen. Mark Kelly faces a renewed Pentagon review after Pete Hegseth urged officials to investigate him again for remarks about U.S. weapon stockpiles on CBS’ Face the Nation. Hegseth called Kelly’s comments about a classified briefing “blabbing on TV,” while Kelly warned that munitions shortages could make the U.S. less safe. The Pentagon declined to comment beyond pointing to Hegseth’s post. The move follows earlier efforts to sanction Kelly over a 2023 video and a federal appeals court hinting it might reject those efforts. CNN has reported significant stockpile reductions in missiles and air-defense systems amid the Iran war.

China’s Quiet Oil Rebalance Reshapes Global Markets
world-news3 months ago

China’s Quiet Oil Rebalance Reshapes Global Markets

Bloomberg notes that China has cut overseas crude imports by about 25% from prewar levels, while commercial stockpiles have risen and state firms are reselling cargoes. The result is a substantial supply surplus that helped cap oil prices around $100, aided by China’s large reserves (about 1.4 billion barrels) and potential shifts to coal‑to‑chemicals, suggesting softer near‑term demand and a reshaped global oil balance.

Oil Stays Around $95 as Markets Bet War Will End Soon
business4 months ago

Oil Stays Around $95 as Markets Bet War Will End Soon

Oil trades around $95 per barrel, far below the steep spikes some predicted amid the Iran war. Goldman Sachs attributes the stability to three factors: a lower risk premium, destocking, and moderation in spot buying. The market has been cushioned by stockpiles and a global economy less dependent on oil, plus a belief that the war could end soon following a temporary U.S.-Iran ceasefire. While a future spike remains possible if disruptions persist, the near-term outlook has cooled from earlier fears.

Ukraine’s Patriot crews fire one interceptor per missile to stretch scarce stockpiles
world4 months ago

Ukraine’s Patriot crews fire one interceptor per missile to stretch scarce stockpiles

A Ukrainian Patriot unit reports firing only one interceptor per incoming Russian missile to conserve scarce stockpiles, diverging from the usual two-to-four interceptors per target; the tactic, described as manual mode due to limited automation, underscores ongoing stockpile strains and could offer lessons for NATO allies on conserving interceptors in high‑intensity conflicts.