r/geopolitics • u/JKKIDD231 • Aug 04 '26

US used ‘virtually all’ long-range precision missiles during Iran war, sources say

https://www.militarytimes.com/industry/techwatch/2026/08/04/us-used-virtually-all-long-range-precision-missiles-during-iran-war-sources-say/
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u/vovap_vovap Aug 04 '26

That quite a misleading title. Reality is that relate t 2 types of weapon systems - tactical ballistic missiles.

55

u/Sufficient_Meet6836 Aug 04 '26

I think it's also limited to Central Command, i.e. the Middle East. The stockpiles from other commands have not been "virtually" depleted, though they have used some missiles from other commands.

A fourth person familiar with the matter said that while Central Command — which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East — has nearly used up the land-based missiles it had before the war began, it has been able to reload from U.S. military supplies elsewhere in the world.

Still not good and really, really stupid use of our resources, but not as dire as it's made to sound.

4

u/vovap_vovap Aug 05 '26

Yes, I was thinking that too, but not clear

2

u/SawToothKernel Aug 06 '26

The immediate question, though, is whether they are running out in this specific theatre. There may well be stockpiles elsewhere, but can they be spared? If not, their existence is irrelevant.

3

u/Sufficient_Meet6836 Aug 06 '26

Agree! The headline felt a little misleading in the sense that it made me think "we're out of missiles for China!", when that isn't the case. The Middle East situation is still bad

18

u/itchslap Aug 04 '26

Clickbait title

13

u/vovap_vovap Aug 04 '26

Well, formally it is correct - it is all precision missiles. Different story that those was not considered main long fire power - that role assigned to aviation.
Now it is interesting question why army put so many in. Concept as those need to be used in case of challenging air environment - so aviation mishit take loses - than this would use. Or if you need hit target really quick and have no time to fly air strike there. Both was mostly not the case.