US Rebuilding Weapons Stockpile Could Delay Orders From Allies

Weapons Supply and Shortages

The U.S. has been the top weapons supplier globally for years, with arms exports reaching nearly 100 countries over the past five years. The War Department Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment, Michael Duffey, stated that the U.S. has the best weapons, which are in high demand worldwide.

The Trump administration attributed some of the U.S. stockpile depletion to weapons given to Ukraine. However, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) noted that while this was a minor factor, the Patriot Missile Defense System was significantly affected.

Between 2021 and 2025, Ukraine was the largest recipient of major arms, with the U.S. supplying 41% of Ukrainian arms imports. The U.S. is the only country that manufactures the Patriot battery, and one of two countries, along with Japan, that publicly show it produces Patriot missiles.

As the U.S. prioritizes rebuilding its weapons inventory, deliveries for some countries are already delayed. The U.S. has 52%-62% of its THAAD inventory remaining, with outstanding deliveries for Saudi Arabia expected to be completed by April 2028.

The ground-launched Precision Strike Missile (PrSm), developed by Lockheed Martin, was first used in Operation Epic Fury. CSIS reported that just 10-22% of those weapons remain from pre-Iran conflict levels, following the ceasefire expenditures and revised estimates from the beginning of the conflict in late February.

Impact on Alliances and Military Strategy

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, emphasized that the inability to deliver on promises to allies like Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine hurts their ability to protect themselves. He noted that when the U.S. can’t deliver weapons fast enough, it undermines its alliances.

Mark Cancian, a retired U.S. Marine colonel and senior advisor with CSIS, explained that the U.S. has maxed out its production lines, a process that began during the Ukraine War when it became clear that modern conflict would require more munitions than previously planned.

Publicly available government reports show that at least four countries, including the U.S., have provided full Patriot missile systems to Ukraine. The U.S. is the only country that manufactures the Patriot battery, and one of two countries, along with Japan, that publicly show it produces Patriot missiles.

Cancian also mentioned that if the U.S. takes all the Patriots for itself, it could refill the inventory more quickly, but this would freeze out its allies and partners. He noted that Japan, which bought 400 Tomahawks, is facing delays and has reconfigured one of its ships to take the Tomahawks, leading to diplomatic discussions.