US Patriot stockpile diminished by 65%, think tank estimates
A Center for Strategic and International Studies report released this week estimates that the U.S. stockpiles of its two critical air defense interceptors are dramatically reduced since combat between the U.S. and Iran began on Feb. 28.
The new report updates a prior report from April 8, when the two countries entered a ceasefire. The first report found that the U.S. stockpile of Patriot interceptors decreased by 55%. Updated figures -- accounting for a number of conflagrations since the ceasefire -- find the stockpile reduced another 10% -- with 65% of US Patriots now lost, according to the CSIS findings.
That's as few as 759 Patriot missiles in the U.S. stockpile, the analysis says.
The U.S. produces 183 of these interceptors a year, and it takes some 3.5 years from when a contract is signed for them to be delivered, according to CSIS.
-ABC News' Chris Boccia




