The United States has mobilized nearly its entire inventory of stealthy JASSM-ER cruise missiles for its ongoing military campaign against Iran, significantly depleting stockpiles reserved for other regions. The $1.5 million missiles, capable of striking targets from more than 600 miles away, have been redirected from Pacific reserves and other domestic facilities to US Central Command bases and Fairford in the UK. This move leaves only about 425 out of a prewar inventory of 2,300 missiles available globally, enough for just 17 B-1B bombers on a single mission.
Strategic Shift Raises Concerns
The decision to commit such a large portion of the JASSM-ER inventory to Iran underscores the intensity of the conflict and the Biden administration's reliance on long-range weapons to minimize risks to American service members. However, this strategy has drawn criticism for potentially undermining preparedness against more advanced adversaries like China. The US and Israel have claimed significant success in degrading Iran's air defenses, but recent losses of US aircraft, including an F-15E strike fighter and an A-10 attack jet, highlight the ongoing vulnerabilities.
‘Over the next two to three weeks, we’re going to bring them back to the stone ages where they belong,’ President Trump said, without clarifying the implications for Iran’s civilians or military.
The production of these missiles remains limited, with Lockheed Martin currently manufacturing only 396 JASSM-ERs annually. Even with expanded production capacity, replenishing the depleted stocks could take years. The diversion of these critical resources to Iran raises questions about the long-term strategic priorities of the US military and the economic implications of prolonged conflict.