US Rapidly Depletes Tomahawk Missile Stockpile in Iran War

Insiders warn supplies are 'alarmingly low' as over 850 missiles have been launched in the first month of the conflict.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 8:40pm

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The US has rapidly depleted its stockpile of Tomahawk cruise missiles in the opening month of the war with Iran, with sources telling the Washington Post that supplies are 'alarmingly low'. More than 850 Tomahawks have been launched so far, a pace that is draining the Pentagon's reserves far faster than they can be replaced.

Why it matters

The heavy reliance on Tomahawk missiles, which can strike targets from over 1,000 miles away without risking pilots, could force the US to shift missiles from other hotspots like the Indo-Pacific and accept a years-long replenishment timeline. Experts warn that China may see this as an opportunity to launch its long-threatened invasion of Taiwan.

The details

Many of the Tomahawks were used in the first days of the war, including at least one that hit a girls' school in Iran, killing over 100 children. The Pentagon may have had fewer than 3,100 Tomahawks when the war began, since thousands bought earlier in the missile program are now obsolete. Defense companies like Raytheon have been summoned to White House meetings to speed up missile deliveries.

  • The war with Iran began in late February 2026.
  • Over 850 Tomahawk missiles have been launched in the first month of the conflict.

The players

Pentagon

The US Department of Defense, which is responsible for the military's Tomahawk missile stockpile.

Raytheon

The defense contractor that manufactures the Tomahawk cruise missile.

Pete Hegseth

The US Secretary of Defense, who has been urging defense companies to speed up missile deliveries.

Harry J. Kazianis

A defense analyst at the 19FortyFive think-tank, who warns that China may see the US's depleted missile stockpile as an opportunity to launch an invasion of Taiwan.

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What they’re saying

“We are learning a truly uncomfortable truth: The burn rate of precision munitions in a high-intensity conflict against even a mid-tier adversary like Iran puts enormous stress on stockpiles that were never sized for two simultaneous wars. And that stress is not going unnoticed in Beijing.”

— Harry J. Kazianis, Defense Analyst

“The military has everything it needs to execute any mission at the time and place of the President's choosing and on any timeline. He accused the media of being 'biased and obsessed with portraying the world's strongest military as weak'.”

— Sean Parnell, Pentagon Spokesman

What’s next

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been urging defense companies to speed up Tomahawk missile deliveries to replenish the depleted stockpile.

The takeaway

The heavy reliance on Tomahawk cruise missiles in the opening stages of the Iran war has rapidly depleted the US's stockpile, raising concerns about the military's ability to sustain operations and potentially emboldening adversaries like China to take advantage of the situation.