Part 2/15:
President Donald Trump has approved the deployment of Patriot missile interceptors to Ukraine amid Russia’s escalating aerial assaults. However, a significant obstacle looms: the United States faces critical shortages of these interceptors, with current stockpiles at only 25% of Pentagon requirements.
Historically, U.S. stockpiles have been depleted due to prolonged conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. For instance, approximately 2,000 Stinger missiles have been sent to Ukraine alone—amounting to nearly two and a half years of U.S. production—leaving limited reserves for other theaters, especially against threats like Iranian ballistic missiles.