{"id":139604,"date":"2025-09-09T12:23:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T16:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=139604"},"modified":"2025-09-09T18:26:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T22:26:33","slug":"ni-the-us-militarys-missile-gap-isnt-going-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=139604","title":{"rendered":"(NI) The US Military\u2019s Missile Gap Isn\u2019t Going Away"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This summer\u2019s \u201c12-Day War<\/a>\u201d between Israel and Iran exposed what Washington should have long known: the US military\u2019s air and missile defense architecture is not ready for a long fight against a capable enemy. Israel severely degraded Iran\u2019s ability to fire missiles by systematically eliminating many of their launchers. However, the United States still expended nearly 25 percent<\/a> of the total number of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense<\/a> (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile interceptors during the short conflict. Not a quarter of all our THAAD interceptors bought last year, but a full one-fourth of all of these systems ever procured. The military is falling behind and must reverse course soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the twelve days of fighting between Israel and Iran, over 150 THAAD interceptors were launched at Iran\u2019s more advanced ballistic missiles. This is over three times the average annual procurement of around 40 interceptors since 2010<\/a>. At $15.5 million<\/a> per interceptor, this puts the armed forces on an unsustainable trajectory. Even if the Pentagon increases current orders beyond the meager 12 funded in the 2025 budget, it still takes 3 years<\/a> between the date a contract is awarded and when the interceptors are delivered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shortage of THAAD interceptors is not unique. American ships in the region also launched over 80<\/a> Standard Missile-3 (SM-3<\/a>) interceptors to help defeat Iranian missiles during the 12-day conflict. The only version of this missile in production is the SM-3 Block IIA, and the Defense Department is still waiting on the first delivery of these upgraded missiles from a contract awarded in 2019<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>

The US Military\u2019s Missile Gap Isn\u2019t Going Away
https:\/\/t.co\/WApd0CcRxx<\/a><\/p>— Amb Antonio Garza (@aogarza) September 9, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>