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Home News Israel at War Iran War

Pentagon interceptor shortage prompts urgent request after Iran war

Budget documents show major interceptor purchases and maintenance tagged as emergency requests.

by  Erez Linn
Published on  08-20-2025 06:59
Last modified: 08-20-2025 13:16
Sources: Next 48 hours critical; US could get involvedSaul LOEB / AFP; REUTERS/Leah Millis ; WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS;

President Donald Trump and Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei | Photo: Saul LOEB / AFP; REUTERS/Leah Millis ; WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS;

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The US is preparing to invest over $3.5 billion to restore its arsenal following operations connected to Israel, Bloomberg reported. Budget files completed by mid-May and reviewed by Bloomberg show allocations both for replacing interceptors – including at least $1 billion for RTX-produced missiles used against Iranian strikes – and for tasks such as radar upkeep, naval repair work, and munitions transport. Nearly all US-specific expenditures are labeled as "emergency budget requests."

The plan is tied to the 2024 Israeli Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, which set aside $14 billion to rebuild US stockpiles and expand Israel's interceptor supply. According to Bloomberg, the Pentagon said these expenses cover missions by US Central Command either responding to "the situation in Israel" or to hostile activity from it, including combat "executed at the request of or in coordination with Israel for the defense of Israeli territory, personnel or assets during attacks by Iran" or allied groups.

A missile is launched during an Iranian Army exercise dubbed 'Zulfiqar 1400', in the coastal area of the Gulf of Oman, Iran, in this picture obtained on November 7, 2021 (Iranian Army/WANA /Reuters / West Asia News Agency)

The documentation cites US actions during Iran's April 2024 attack, which included more than 110 ballistic missiles, 30-plus cruise missiles, and over 150 drones. Bloomberg noted that the replenishment requests, which date back to late 2023, are distinct from the $4.2 billion in weapons already supplied to Israel from October 2023 through May 2025, as tracked by the Center for International Policy in an Aug. 7 report.

The largest single line item is about $1 billion to replace RTX's Standard Missile interceptors, especially the advanced "SM-3 IB Threat Upgrade" model costing $9 million to $12 million each. These were first launched from US Navy ships during the April 2024 missile barrages. Bloomberg also reported that $1.4 million was requested for a special flight mission that delivered fresh SM-3 IB interceptors to replace expended rounds.

Rescue personnel work at an impact site following missile attack from Iran on Israel, in centra Israel, June 14, 2025 (Reuters / Ronen Zvulun)

In June, the USS Arleigh Burke and USS The Sullivans fired SM-3s to protect Israel, a US official said. A separate official told Bloomberg that a US Army unit in the area simultaneously deployed THAAD interceptors against Iranian missiles.

The second-largest request is $204 million for Lockheed Martin's THAAD interceptors, which cost about $12.7 million each to produce. Another $9.2 million is sought for delayed maintenance of the THAAD TPY-2 radar, requiring replacement of eight power engines and alternators. Budget files further describe the radar costs as stemming from an "unplanned THAAD deployment" at a new site, in addition to the unit the Pentagon previously confirmed deploying to Israel last October.

Tags: 8/19Iran strikesIsrael OperationsLockheed MartinMiddle East Securitymissile defenseOperation Rising LionPentagonRTXSM-3 InterceptorsTHAADUS military

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