A War of Stockpiles

"None of the above will matter if you are dead. General Mark Milley emphasized that new long-range missiles, improved tanks, and better-armed infantrymen are useless without effective air defense, highlighting the critical importance of sky shield capabilities for military dominance and soldier survival in future conflicts."

"U.S. military leaders may soon be forced to choose between protecting troops and civilians near Iran and maintaining U.S. combat readiness against larger, more consistent threats from Russia and China. The conflict has become a race to weaken Iran's missile-launch capacity before Tehran can deplete Washington's finite air-defense supplies."

"Trump stated that U.S. munitions stockpiles have never been higher or better at medium and upper medium grades, but acknowledged at the highest end, we have a good supply, but are not where we want to be, blaming Biden for not replacing weapons provided to Ukraine."

General Mark Milley emphasized in 2017 that effective air defense is essential for military dominance, stating that advanced weapons systems are useless without adequate sky shield capabilities. The Trump administration's conflict with Iran represents the most significant test of America's 21st-century air defense network, which protects against incoming missiles, drones, and ordnance. While the system has largely withstood Iranian attacks since Saturday, military leaders face difficult choices between protecting troops and civilians near Iran and maintaining combat readiness against Russia and China. The conflict has become a race to disable Iran's missile capacity before U.S. air-defense supplies become critically depleted. Trump acknowledged concerns about munitions stockpiles, noting adequate supplies at medium grades but insufficient reserves at the highest end.

Read at The Atlantic