Panic is spreading inside the Pentagon as officials warn that U.S. Tomahawk missile stockpiles are being drained at an alarming rate just weeks into the war with Iran.
According to defense officials, the U.S. has already fired around 850 Tomahawk missiles since the conflict began, a massive number given how difficult they are to produce.
Each missile costs between $2 million and $3.6 million, making the surge in usage not only a military concern but a financial one as well.
Behind closed doors, officials are sounding the alarm. One described the stockpile as “alarmingly low,” while another warned the U.S. is nearing “Winchester,” military slang for running out of ammunition.
The issue is production. Only a few hundred Tomahawk missiles are manufactured each year, and just 57 were purchased in the most recent defense budget.
That gap between supply and demand is now forcing urgent discussions inside the Pentagon. Military planners are considering whether to pull missiles from other regions, including the Indo-Pacific, to sustain operations in the Middle East.
Tomahawk missiles have long been a cornerstone of U.S. military strategy. They allow forces to strike targets up to 1,000 miles away without risking pilots, making them a preferred option in high-risk environments.
But their heavy use in the Iran conflict is creating new risks. As stockpiles shrink, the U.S. may be forced to rely more on aircraft, which exposes pilots to enemy defenses.
That risk has already become real. A U.S. F-35 stealth fighter was recently hit over enemy territory and forced to make an emergency landing, highlighting the dangers of shifting away from long-range missile strikes.
The strain is not limited to offensive weapons. The Pentagon has also burned through more than 1,000 air-defense interceptor missiles, including Patriot and THAAD systems, to counter Iranian retaliation, per the Daily Mail.
These systems are even more expensive and are also produced in limited quantities, adding to the pressure on U.S. military resources.
Despite the concerns, the Pentagon is publicly pushing back. Spokesman Sean Parnell said the military has everything it needs to carry out any mission at the President’s direction.
Still, the internal warnings paint a different picture. Officials are now closely tracking how quickly missiles are being used and calculating how long current supplies can sustain operations.
The situation is complicated by the broader strategic picture. The U.S. must maintain readiness for other potential conflicts, meaning it cannot fully deplete its arsenal in one region.
President Donald Trump has already moved to address the issue, meeting with defense contractors and pushing to increase production of high-end weapons, including Tomahawk missiles.
Manufacturers have reportedly agreed to ramp up output, but scaling production takes time, and it may not keep pace with current demand.
Meanwhile, Iran continues to hold the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, adding economic pressure as oil prices climb.
The deeper concern is sustainability. If the conflict drags on, the U.S. could face difficult choices about resource allocation, strategy, and risk.
What started as a show of military strength is now raising a serious question inside the Pentagon: how long can the current pace be maintained before critical resources run dry.
