And the result could leave more U.S. soldiers dead in the event of a war.
“We will have to use short or medium range munitions instead of long range munitions, and that means you have to get in much closer. Makes the platforms much more vulnerable,” Cancian says.
Fewer weapons for Ukraine
Prior to the Iran War, Ukraine was already facing a shortage of U.S.-made Patriot air defense missiles, which are especially effective against Russian ballistic missiles.
But, as U.S. forces and American allies in the Gulf used these Patriot air defense systems to shoot down barrages of Iranian drones and missiles, Ukraine is facing a critical shortage.
Earlier this month, the Financial Times reported that new weapons delays announced to Europe by the Pentagon will also affect High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) munitions, which is a highly mobile rocket system used by Ukraine.
Still embattled with Russia, Ukraine is currently working on building its own missile defense system, with President Volodymyr Zelensky telling other European leaders that the continent “should be able to produce everything it needs to defend against everything — all the ballistic attacks and all other weapons — on its own,” in early May.
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