The U.S. military is facing a severe shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles, with current stockpiles reportedly at only 25% of the level required for potential conflicts. -This depletion, exacerbated by the recent defense of Al Udeid Air Base against an Iranian missile barrage and extensive aid

The US Army plans to spend more than $1.3 billion on Patriot missiles for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, and has quietly quadrupled its overall purchase target for the air defense weapon that has proven critical not just for Ukraine but also for US forces in the Middle East.

The American-made Patriot surface-to-air missile system has been a workhorse for Kyiv in defending against Russian attacks.

Since the Patriot's introduction in 1981, around 1,100 have been acquired by the U.S. Army. Approximately 200 of the produced launchers have been exported.

The stockpile has fallen so low that concerns have been raised inside the Pentagon that future U.S. military operations could be jeopardized.

The United States is selling weapons to its NATO allies in Europe so they can provide them to Ukraine as it struggles to fend off a recent escalation in Russia's drone and missile attacks, President Donald Trump and his chief diplomat said.

A decision by Washington to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv on Wednesday that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes a

Ten Patriot interceptor missiles, which US President Donald Trump promised to send to Kiev, will not be enough even for one battle. This was stated by The Times newspaper by a high-ranking officer of the AFU Air Force.

The Trump administration will hold back delivering to Ukraine some air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery and other weapons as part of its announced pause to some arms shipments.

Internal Pentagon documents reportedly revealed that the Army has boosted its planned purchases of the most advanced Patriot interceptors from 3,376 to 13,773.