Ousted general warned of years-long missile defense shortage before Iran war

Warning issued before the war

In late December, Gen. Randy George told defense officials that Army missile-defense munitions were in critical shortage, according to multiple U.S. officials familiar with his assessment. He projected that THAAD and Patriot stocks would stay at strategically low levels until 2030.

George prepared the assessment for the Defense Department’s fiscal 2027 plan, before the U.S.-Israel-led war with Iran began. That conflict was in its seventh month at the time of the report, and Hegseth ousted George in April as the war continued.

Different systems, limited supplies

Officials described THAAD and Patriot munitions as being at low strategic-risk levels, despite substantial U.S. holdings of some offensive weapons, including Joint Direct Attack Munitions and Small Diameter Bombs. Patriot systems defend bases, troops and other important infrastructure against missiles and aircraft.

Patriot can counter more types of aerial threats at lower altitudes than THAAD. Used together, the systems offer overlapping protection against missile attacks. The Patriot interceptor identified as critically low is PAC-3. It is designed to destroy tactical ballistic and cruise missiles by striking them at high speed, and can also engage enemy aircraft, according to officials.

Replenishment takes years

A Center for Strategic and International Studies estimate from April put delivery times at four years and five months for new THAAD interceptor contracts, and an average of three and a half years for PAC-3 orders. Before the Iran war, the THAAD inventory was about 355 interceptors.

CSIS estimated that the conflict used between 190 and 290 THAAD interceptors, or about 82% of the prewar inventory. No replenishment deliveries were expected in fiscal 2026; for fiscal 2027, the United States requested more than 800 THAADs.

Lockheed Martin announced in January that it planned to raise annual THAAD production capacity from 96 to 400 interceptors. One U.S. official said that even without further use in Iran or other conflicts, returning stocks to their already-low December 2025 levels would take until 2030.

Forces shift as needs change

The U.S. military has 11 unified combatant commands, each responsible for a region or a specialized mission. U.S. Central Command, led by Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, directs operations against Iran.

Cancian said that after the Soviet Union collapsed, U.S. planners stopped assuming the country might face a prolonged war against another superpower. He also said the industrial base was reduced; the article’s account of his remarks ends mid-sentence.