Pentagon Warned of Critical Missile Defense Shortages Before Iran War, CBS Reports

• by Shimanta Das
• October 18, 2026

In a revelation that underscores the fragility of U.S. military readiness, CBS News has reported that former U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Randy George warned in late December 2025—approximately two months before the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel-led war with Iran—that the American armed forces were facing critical shortages of interceptor missiles. According to the report, General George estimated that stockpiles of Patriot and THAAD systems would remain at critically low levels until 2030, a five-year window that could leave key assets vulnerable. The warning, which has now come to light as the conflict enters its seventh month, highlights a strategic gap that military planners had anticipated but apparently could not fully mitigate.

The shortage is particularly acute for missile defense munitions, even as the U.S. maintains substantial stocks of certain offensive weapons such as Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guided bombs and Small Diameter Bombs. THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) systems are among the most advanced missile defense capabilities in the U.S. arsenal, designed to intercept and destroy short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase. Patriot systems, meanwhile, are used to protect military installations, personnel, and critical infrastructure against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and hostile aircraft. The Patriot munition at critically low levels is the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3), a high-velocity surface-to-air interceptor that destroys incoming tactical ballistic missiles and cruise missiles by ramming into them—a hit-to-kill approach that demands precision and advanced technology.

General George’s warning, according to multiple U.S. officials cited in the report, emphasized that his service was critically short on missile defense munitions and that the shortage would persist for another five years. This assessment aligns with the current strategic-risk levels, where THAAD and Patriot interceptor stockpiles are deemed insufficient to sustain prolonged conflict. The implications are significant: without adequate missile defense, U.S. and allied forces, as well as critical infrastructure, could be exposed to enemy missile strikes. The war with Iran, now in its seventh month, has likely strained these stockpiles further, underscoring the urgency of replenishing and modernizing missile