The two Patriot batteries at the Al Udeid Air Base reportedly used roughly 30 Patriot interceptors against the 14 Iranian ballistic missiles targeting the site June 23. (IDF via Getty Images)
Lt. Gen. Thomas Bergeson, former chief of U.S. Central Command, said the U.S. and its allies needed to do more to invest in nonkinetic interception mechanisms, or systems that can neutralize a threat without explosive force, which would be much cheaper in defending against future attacks.
"There's any number of operational test and developmental testing going on with a cheaper bullet than a multibillion-dollar interceptor to shoot down a relatively inexpensive missile or UAS," he said. "Any electro-magnetic interference capability, a microwave laser EMP, whatever that can screw up, the guidance system or the proportion of that particular system is something that could be cheaper.
"You can have literally hundreds if not thousands of rounds in one interceptor at very low cost."
While the cost for the U.S. and Israel was high, the cost for Iran was greater — between $1.1 billion and $6.6 billion. Air defenses saved Israel about $13.5 billion in property damage.
Iran used up between a third and a half of its ballistic missile arsenal during the 12-day conflict, suggesting Iranian assertions it could have continued striking Israel for years if it wanted were overblown.
Iran used up between a third and a half of its ballistic missile arsenal during the 12-day conflict, including in the aftermath of an attack on Haifa pictured above. (Rami Shlush/Reuters)
Replacing its missile stockpiles will be even more costly given that Israel struck many of its launchers and production sites.
But the U.S. used up 14% of its global stockpile of prized THAAD missile interceptors. America’s THAAD system accounted for nearly half of all interceptions due to "insufficient" capacity of Israel’s Arrow interception system.
It would take three to eight years to replenish the THAAD interceptors used in the 12-day war at current production rates.
Patriot interceptor production is more robust than THAAD, according to the report, but the U.S. is providing a number of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine. So, it’s unclear how many remain in the stockpile.
If the U.S. and Israel fail to urgently replenish their interceptor inventories — especially THAAD and Patriot systems — they risk entering the next crisis with dangerously thin defenses, according to the report. Adversaries may take note of the extended gap between munitions use and stockpile replenishment, which leaves U.S. bases across the world open to vulnerabilities.
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"Iran’s large-scale missile campaign may have revealed vulnerabilities in Israeli and U.S. air defense systems, providing lessons that Iran or other U.S. adversaries could exploit in the future," the report said.
The Pentagon could not immediately be reached for comment on its plan to replenish missile interceptor stocks.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/us-israel-urgently-need-replenish-weapons-stockpiles-after-12-day-war-defense-analysts-warn