WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military is facing a significant shortage of advanced missile interceptors in Europe, described as 'beyond critical' by a U.S. defense official and a NATO official, according to The Associated Press. This situation raises concerns about the vulnerabilities of NATO countries to a potential Russian attack. The U.S. defense official indicated that the most pressing shortfall involves Patriot missile interceptors, which are designed to intercept high-speed ballistic missiles from Russia. The NATO official corroborated the low inventories of Patriots among American and NATO forces in Europe, with both officials speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of military matters.
In the event of a Russian ballistic missile strike on key infrastructure, NATO could find itself in a precarious position similar to that of Ukraine, which has been described as 'Patriot-starved,' according to the U.S. defense official. The American military in Europe reportedly lacks sufficient Patriots to effectively counter a sustained ballistic missile attack and would have limited capability to defend against a single missile strike or an errant Russian missile.
This shortage is attributed to the ongoing conflict initiated by President Donald Trump against Iran, which has diverted U.S. missile stocks to the Middle East. U.S. and Gulf allies have utilized a significant number of interceptors, including Patriots, to counter Iranian drone and missile threats, some of which have resulted in casualties among American troops.
While a Russian missile attack on NATO countries is not currently expected, CIA Director John Ratcliffe recently traveled to Moscow to caution against such actions, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Trump downplayed the significance of this trip, calling it 'sort of semi-routine.' European and NATO officials have indicated that Russia could be capable of attacking NATO countries by 2030, although the ongoing war in Ukraine may complicate Russia's ability to engage in a two-front air conflict.
The shortage of Patriot missiles is particularly acute in Ukraine, where officials are requesting additional air defense support. U.S. transfers of Patriot systems to Ukraine have contributed to the depletion of stocks, with Kyiv asserting that only U.S.-made Patriots can effectively counter Russia’s advanced ballistic missiles, which have increasingly penetrated Ukrainian defenses.
Ed Arnold, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, noted that the supply to Ukraine was planned and measured, while the rapid depletion of stocks in the Middle East has exposed vulnerabilities in the supply chain. The U.S. military in Europe is also facing shortages of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), although the overall situation regarding munitions is less severe due to some European militaries possessing their own offensive missile capabilities.
U.S. Army Col. Martin O’Donnell, a senior NATO military spokesperson, stated that claims regarding the critical shortage of Patriot missiles are inaccurate, asserting that NATO has sufficient air defense munitions to protect itself and support Ukraine. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell also refuted the claims of U.S. munitions shortages, stating that the military maintains a ready arsenal to defend U.S. interests.
Experts warn that the lack of Patriot interceptors in Europe limits options for intercepting Russia’s advanced ballistic missiles, which can be deployed alongside swarms of drones to overwhelm defenses. While Ukraine and some allies utilize systems capable of targeting slower-moving drones, ballistic missiles present a greater challenge due to their high speed. The Patriot system is designed to track and intercept missiles quickly, but each battery can only cover a limited area.
An alternative air defense system, the SAMP/T NG, developed by France and Italy, may provide some capability against ballistic threats. France has committed to accelerating the delivery of this upgraded system to Ukraine, which is reported to have enhanced capabilities against ballistic missiles.