The United States depleted between 15 to 20 percent of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile stockpile in a recent 12-day confrontation, in which both the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. The high-cost deployment was aimed at countering Iran’s widespread missile attacks targeting Israeli cities.
Military Watch Magazine reports that approximately 60 to 80 THAAD interceptors were fired during the hostilities. Each interceptor carries a price tag of between $12 million and $15 million, placing the total expenditure for the U.S. during the operation at roughly $810 million to $1.215 billion. In contrast, the cost of Iran’s missile offensive was significantly lower, highlighting the economic imbalance between offensive and defensive warfare—a disparity considered unsustainable in protracted or multi-theater engagements.
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Ahead of the conflict, the US had restocked the THAAD battery stationed in Israel, according to the Wall Street Journal. Despite the replenishment, the logistical burden of deploying such advanced systems in active combat zones raises concerns about the strain on US military preparedness and the potential impact on future operations.
Iran’s missile attack included advanced models such as the Ghadr, Emad, Kheibar Shekan, and the hypersonic Fattah-1, the latter capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 15, making interception significantly more difficult. The THAAD system, originally designed to address threats from nations like North Korea and Iran, is built to counter medium to intermediate-range ballistic missiles with the potential for conventional or nuclear payloads.
Given that the US produces only 50 to 60 THAAD interceptors annually, replacing those used in less than two weeks could take years. While the U.S.-Israel campaign succeeded in damaging Iranian military infrastructure and disrupting command structures, Iran’s leadership and nuclear ambitions remain unaffected.
The conflict concluded after US President Donald Trump announced a “complete and total ceasefire” on Monday.
