The United States Is Set to Buy More THAAD Interceptors. Is It Enough?

Recent Department of Defense (DOD) budgets have seen lower Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor procurement numbers, triggering renewed concerns about missile defense interceptor inventories. 

  1. The 2026 DOD budget request includes an uptick in THAAD missile funding, outlining plans to purchase 25 interceptors with discretionary funds and to use recently passed reconciliation bill funding for an additional 12 interceptors. 

  2. While data on the exact inventory of interceptors is classified, annual missile procurement data can provide a rough approximation. Larger THAAD missile buys in 2018 and 2019 contributed to reasonably healthy missile inventory levels, but recent buys have been relatively small, triggering concerns in light of new conflicts in the Middle East.  

  3. U.S. material support for Israel in its 12-day conflict with Iran is likely to have had a significant impact on THAAD missile inventories. The decision to allocate reconciliation funds for additional THAAD interceptors was likely made before the conflict, which might require Congress to consider supplemental funds to restock the expended missiles. 

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