Following Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks, Gulf nations have fired approximately 2400 interceptor missiles, nearing pre-war stockpiles.
Gulf Patriot Supplies Nearing Depletion
Since February 28th, when Israel and the U.S. began attacking Iran, and Tehran responded with ballistic missile and drone strikes, countries in the Gulf region have launched at least 2400 interceptor missiles.
According to Bloomberg, this number is close to the pre-war inventory of Patriot missile systems held by these countries – around 2800 units. Estimates are based on publicly available data and expert opinions.
U.S. Support Crucial for Regional Defense
“Without U.S. support, most countries would have been unable to defend themselves against Iranian missiles,” stated Kelly Grieco, an expert at the Stimson Center, in a Bloomberg interview.
Poland’s Patriot System Potentially Redeployed
Amidst Iranian retaliatory attacks, U.S. officials reportedly informally suggested to Polish representatives considering transferring one Patriot battery to the Middle East.
Poland Reaffirms Defense Priorities
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Poland’s Patriot batteries and their weaponry are dedicated to protecting Polish airspace and NATO’s eastern flank, with no plans for redeployment. He emphasized Poland’s security as an absolute priority.
Limited Interceptor Production Capacity
Iran has used approximately 1200 ballistic missiles and over 4,000 Shahed-type drones in attacks against Israel and regional installations. Interceptors like THAAD and Patriot are used to counter ballistic missiles, but their supplies are limited due to low production rates: Lockheed Martin produces 96 THAAD missiles and 650 PAC-3 Patriot missiles annually.
A January agreement aims to increase PAC-3 production to around 2,000 units per year by 2030.
Global Impact of Depleted Interceptor Stocks
Limited supplies of interceptor missiles also pose a challenge for other U.S. allies, including Ukraine, which faces ongoing Russian missile attacks.