©Matias Malka via Unsplash
Due to the protracted war with Iran, U.S. stocks of Patriot and THAAD missiles are rapidly dwindling. The Pentagon is therefore pinning its hopes on defense startups in Silicon Valley, now that traditional suppliers like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are unable to scale up production. In late June, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth convened about fifteen top executives from companies such as Shield AI, Anduril, CoAspire, and Castelion with a clear message: “Solve it.”
According to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the Patriot stockpile dropped from approximately 2,200–2,330 interceptors before the war to just 759–827 units. The THAAD stockpile shrank from 452 to 234–278 missiles. It would take three years or longer to replenish the stockpiles at current production rates.
The underlying dynamics are stark: Iranian missiles cost about half a million euros, while a Patriot interceptor costs approximately 3.2 million euros. “On average, you need three Patriots to shoot down one Iranian missile,” says military expert Roger Housen in Het Nieuwsblad. “Iranian drones are even cheaper, costing around 130,000–170,000 euros. Shooting down a swarm of them is a major blow,” he continues.
Focus on the startups
A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed to Nampa that the department is looking beyond the traditional defense giants. “We want to transform the military so that it fights, procures, and builds with the creativity and decisiveness of American innovation.” Startups must design cheaper, smarter systems and deliver them quickly. But scaling up remains a major stumbling block for now. Bryon Hargis, co-founder of Castelion, acknowledges the pressure. The military has already ordered 500 of its supersonic missiles. “An honor, but also a crushing responsibility. The coming years will bring mostly pain and difficulties,” he tells Breaking Defense. For Hegseth and the Pentagon, the stakes are clear: without Silicon Valley’s help, America risks finding itself in a protracted war with empty arsenals.
©Matias Malka via Unsplash - illustrative image