The scale of consumption has forced the Pentagon to redirect weapons, missiles, and systems from commands in Europe and Asia to support operations in the Middle East.

These transfers have reduced readiness elsewhere:
In Europe, stockpiles critical for NATO’s eastern flank and deterrence against Russia have been depleted, while shortages of surveillance and attack drones and reduced training exercises are impacting operational capability.

In Asia, the impact is even greater: assets including Patriot and THAAD interceptors have been moved from key locations, including South Korea, weakening defenses against regional threats like North Korea’s growing missile threat. Naval forces have also been shifted, including the redeployment of a carrier strike group and Marine units from the Pacific.

At the same time, replenishment efforts are lagging. While the Pentagon has secured long-term agreements with defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin to increase production—aiming to “quadruple” output of precision-guided munitions and missile interceptors—actual expansion has stalled due to pending congressional funding. Until that funding is approved, increase in production cannot fully begin.

Officials warn that rebuilding inventories could take years, leaving some arsenals “worrisomely low” and raising broader concerns about the U.S. ability to handle multiple high-intensity conflicts simultaneously.