US Missile Defense Stocks Under Strain as Iran Tensions Rise

The United States still has enough firepower for major operations against Iran, but its supply of advanced interceptor missiles is facing growing pressure. That warning comes from Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Defense Analyst Col. Wayne Sanders, who spoke on *Bloomberg This Weekend* with Christina Ruffini and Jeff Mason. Sanders said manufacturers are now being pushed to sharply increase output of these high-tech interceptors. The goal is to rebuild stockpiles that have been stretched thin by recent deployments and the need to stay ready for other potential conflicts. But speeding up production is not simple. The supply chains for these weapons are sprawling and complex, involving many suppliers across different states and countries. There is also a strategic balancing act: military planners must decide how many interceptors to send to the Middle East now—and how many to hold back for possible fights elsewhere. The result is a race against time, where every missile produced must count.