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US faces beyond critical Patriot interceptor shortage in Europe
The shortfall, officials said, leaves American and Nato forces with limited ability to defend against sustained Russian ballistic missile attacks, heightening vulnerability concerns.
The US military is dealing with a “beyond critical” shortage of advanced missile interceptors in Europe, with an American defense official in Europe and a Nato official saying the gap is largely tied to the war with Iran driven by US President Donald Trump. Associated Press reported that both officials pointed to low inventories of Patriot missile interceptors among American and Nato forces in Europe.
The officials said the most concerning shortfall involves Patriot interceptor systems that can shoot down Russia’s high-speed ballistic missiles. They warned that, in a scenario involving a Russian ballistic missile assault on targets such as a military headquarters or a power plant, Nato could face a similar predicament to Patriot-starved Ukraine.
Associated Press also reported that the US military does not have enough Patriots to stop any possible sustained ballistic missile attack in Europe. The officials said the capability would be “very limited,” including for a single strike or a stray missile that goes off course.
The report said the situation illustrates cascading fallout from the decision to launch the war against Iran, which is described as reaching a six-month mark on Friday. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.