About this episode

The episode discusses the depletion of U.S. munitions due to the ongoing war with Iran and its implications for military preparedness.

The United States is burning through some of its most advanced munitions in its war with Iran this year. By some accounts, inventories of high-end Patriot and THAAD interceptors may be depleted by as much as 80 percent. Replacing them could take years, even as military planners worry about needs in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Tom Karako, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Missile Defense Project, has tracked just how deep the shortfall runs and what it would take to fix it. He joins FP Live to assess the state of U.S. stockpiles and what it means about the future of American preparedness. John Haltiwanger and Rishi Iyengar: The Iran War Has Left the U.S. Dangerously Exposed Sam Skove: U.S. War in Iran Leaves Ukraine’s Air Defense in Limbo Robert Almelor Delfeld: The U.S. Munitions Deficit Is a Political Problem Franz-Stefan Gady: Europe’s Dangerous Hesitation on Its Own Air Defense Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More episodes of Foreign Policy Live

• Has Trump Peaked? · September 11, 2026 · 13 min
• The Industry That Explains the World · September 9, 2026 · 33 min
• The Only Way to Save Global Order? · September 2, 2026 · 44 min
• Why Your Political Anger Feels Futile · August 21, 2026 · 43 min
• The Gulf’s Postwar Playbook · August 11, 2026 · 40 min
• Why Everyone Is Talking About Chokepoints · August 5, 2026 · 45 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Foreign Policy Live podcast page.