The Unseen Cost of War: US Uses Up ‘Virtually All’ of Long-Range Precision Missiles in Iran Conflict

The US Army has used up a significant portion of its stockpile of long-range precision missiles, leaving concerns about the country’s military readiness and ability to respond to future crises.

This development is striking given Washington’s rhetoric that the US has “far more munitions than anyone in the world” and “far more than we need.” However, it appears that a substantial number of these missiles have been expended during the Iran conflict.

The Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) are two of the most advanced long-range munitions in the US arsenal. These precision-guided missiles allow for accurate strikes from a safe distance, making them valuable assets on the battlefield. The ATACMS have played a key role in Ukraine, enabling Ukrainian forces to attack targets deep within Russian territory.

As both systems approach obsolescence – the PrSM will eventually replace the older ATACMS – it’s unclear whether the US has sufficient stockpiles to sustain itself in future conflicts. Analysts point out that such high-end munitions are crucial in any engagement with a major power like China, where precision and reach become even more critical.

The cost of these missiles is also worth scrutinizing: they can cost upwards of $1 million each, raising questions about whether the US is getting value for its money. These missiles amount to little more than guided artillery shells, but at such an exorbitant price tag, it’s unclear if this is a responsible use of national security funds.

As the US continues to engage in military adventurism around the world, concerns grow that the true cost of these actions has not been accurately accounted for. The depletion of precision-guided missiles raises serious questions about the country’s military readiness and its ability to respond to future crises.

This trend is not unique to the US: other major powers are also rapidly depleting their stocks of high-end munitions, raising concerns about the sustainability of their military strategies in an increasingly complex world. The “buy more, fight longer” strategy – where new technologies and systems compensate for dwindling stockpiles – is fraught with risks: what happens when these newer systems fail or are taken out by enemy countermeasures?

The US military’s reliance on precision-guided munitions has become a hallmark of modern warfare. However, as the costs of these expensive tools continue to escalate, questions arise about whether this approach is sustainable in the long term.

This development raises fundamental questions about national security and our willingness to bear the costs of maintaining it. As we head into an uncertain future, one thing is clear: the depletion of advanced missiles will shape the course of military operations, influencing whether we see a shift towards more cost-effective strategies or continued reliance on pricey precision-guided munitions.