U.S. Missile Shortages Warning
PHOTO CAPTION: Gen. Randy A. George, former U.S. Army chief of staff, photographed at the Pentagon in August 2022. According to CBS News, George warned of missile-defense shortages potentially lasting through 2030 before his removal by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in April 2026. (U.S. Army photo by William Pratt)
The Army's former top general warned Pentagon officials that critical U.S. missile-defense inventories could remain dangerously low through 2030, months before Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed him from his position during the war with Iran.
According to an October 15 investigation by CBS News, Gen. Randy George delivered the assessment in December 2025, approximately two months before the United States and Israel began their latest military campaign against Iran.
The warning concerned two of America's most important missile-defense capabilities: the Patriot air-defense system and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, commonly known as THAAD.
Multiple U.S. officials familiar with the assessment told CBS that shortages could persist for years because existing demand had outpaced the defense industry's ability to replace the weapons.
Warning Came Before the Iran War
George's assessment was reportedly incorporated into the Pentagon's Global Force Management Allocation Plan, which helps determine how U.S. troops, weapons and other military resources are distributed among combatant commands.
At the time, American missile-defense resources were already supporting several international commitments, including assistance to Ukraine and the defense of Israel.
Patriot systems are designed to intercept incoming aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, while THAAD provides another layer of defense against ballistic threats.
Both systems rely on expensive interceptors that can take years to manufacture and deliver.
The military's use of these weapons during the Iran conflict has added additional pressure to already strained inventories.
Hegseth Removed George During the War
On April 2, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed George to step down and retire immediately, cutting short a four-year Army chief of staff appointment that had been expected to continue until 2027.
Two other senior Army officers were removed from their positions the same day.
At the time, Pentagon officials described the decision as a leadership change and said the department wanted Army leadership aligned with the administration's priorities.
The Pentagon did not publicly identify George's December missile-defense assessment as a reason for his removal.
CBS's new reporting establishes that the warning preceded his dismissal, but it does not establish that the two events were connected.
George declined to comment on the newly reported assessment.
Missile Supplies Could Take Years to Rebuild
Separate analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies has also documented the pressure on American air-defense inventories.
In an April assessment, CSIS estimated that U.S. forces had expended substantial portions of their available Patriot and THAAD interceptors during operations against Iran.
Further CSIS research found that rebuilding several missile inventories would take multiple years, even with additional production capacity.
The concern extends beyond the current war.
Patriot and THAAD systems are also central to protecting American forces and allies in Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific, meaning shortages could constrain military planning during another major conflict.
Defense manufacturers have announced plans to expand production, but new manufacturing capacity and long delivery timelines make rapid replenishment difficult.
Pentagon Disputes Shortage Claims
The Pentagon rejected the characterization of its missile inventories.
In a statement to CBS News, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell called claims of American munitions shortages false and maintained that the military retains the capabilities required to conduct operations and defend U.S. interests.
The department's position contrasts with the assessments described by CBS's sources and independent research documenting missile production and replenishment challenges.
The exact contents of George's assessment have not been publicly released, and CBS withheld specific inventory percentages for security reasons.
The newly disclosed warning raises questions about how the Pentagon is managing long-term missile-defense readiness while supporting current operations and preparing for potential future conflicts.
(Source: OAF Nation)
