U.S. Central Command Adm. Brad Cooper said he wasn’t worried about U.S. munition supplies despite an April study showing that certain inventories were at critical levels due to the Iran war.
“I’m not concerned at all,” Cooper said. “We’re well armed and ready for any contingency.”
Cooper appeared in a 60 Minutes interview that aired Sunday with Norah O’Donnell, in which she asked about the shortage and what that could mean for the U.S. as the conflict with Iran continues.
A report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies showed the estimated usage versus the inventory. Seven munitions are deemed “critical” and sorted into two groups: long-range ground attack and air and missile defense.
President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2027 budget request hints at the urgency of replenishing these supplies. CSIS stated that it’ll take years for the missiles to be delivered at the requested amount, given that prior years’ requests had been much lower.
Two especially critical areas include the THAAD interceptor, cited as the most critical due to its low inventory and “lack of alternatives,” and Patriot missiles. They both have seen a large requested increase for 2027. More than 45% of Patriot missiles were estimated to have been used.
In September, Trump denied any shortage of missiles and munitions on social media, stating the reports and claims were “100% wrong” and “actually treasonous.” Just a month prior, a letter from Deputy War Secretary Steve Feinberg asked industry leaders to increase production “including munitions that are in extreme shortage due to the war with Iran.”
TRUMP ADMITS MUNITIONS SHORTAGE AND CONCEDES NO TALKS WITH IRAN, SAYS HE’S ‘LOW-KEYING IT’
Based on a drop in usage since the beginning of the Iran war, the report concludes that the U.S. will have enough supplies for the Iran war. However, future conflicts or wars may pose an issue in the near future while munitions are replenishing, according to CSIS.
Cooper, for his part, still asserted that he wasn’t concerned about future conflicts.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
