Following the 12-day conflict with Iran, defense analysts are urging the U.S. and Israel to rapidly replenish their depleted missile defense systems. The war, which saw Iran launch a large-scale missile campaign against Israel and U.S. bases, cost Tehran up to $6.6 billion. The engagement significantly strained both nations’ interceptor stocks, with the U.S. utilizing 14% of its global THAAD inventory and Israel facing a critical need to rebuild its defenses.
Experts emphasize the necessity of transitioning to cheaper, non-kinetic interception technologies, which could provide more cost-effective protection against future threats. The report highlights the urgency of increasing production rates and developing new defense mechanisms to prevent adversaries from exploiting vulnerabilities in current systems. The U.S. and Israel’s air defense systems were heavily tested during the conflict, with the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) reporting that the cost of defending Israel and the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar reached $1.48 to $1.58 billion. The conflict also used up a large portion of missile interceptor stockpiles, with the U.S. reducing its THAAD inventory by about 14%, leaving it with approximately 540 interceptors available.
The war saw Iran launch 574 medium-range ballistic missiles toward Israel and the U.S. airbase in Qatar after Tel Aviv and Washington conducted strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites. Lt. Gen. Thomas Bergeson, former chief of the U.S. Central Command, highlighted the need for alternative, cheaper defensive systems that could disrupt Iran’s missiles without relying on expensive kinetic interception methods. He suggested that technologies such as electromagnetic interference, microwave lasers, or EMP capabilities could offer more affordable defenses. These systems, he explained, could potentially deploy hundreds or even thousands of rounds in one interceptor at a much lower cost.
Despite the financial burden on the U.S. and Israel, the cost for Iran was even greater, ranging from $1.1 billion to $6.6 billion. However, Iran used up between a third and a half of its ballistic missile arsenal, suggesting that its claims of being able to strike Israel for years were exaggerated. The U.S. used up 14% of its global stockpile of THAAD interceptors, and Israel’s Arrow system failed to intercept many missiles, making it evident that the U.S. system has a more robust capacity. Analysts warn that without urgent replenishment, the U.S. and Israel could face dangerous vulnerabilities in the future, as the gap between munitions use and stockpile replenishment could be exploited by adversaries.