Ya know a trillion $ only buys so much.
8 Likes
Below the first AI response, Ukraine and Israel would only like to get Cruise Missiles.
AI
The U.S. has thousands of cruise missiles, primarily Tomahawk (TLAM) missiles for the Navy and AGM-86 ALCMs for the Air Force, with estimates around 3,700-4,000 Tomahawks in inventory in the early 2020s, but these numbers are depleting due to usage and retirements, with smaller production replenishments; a significant portion of nuclear warheads (around 1,900) are held in reserve, not actively deployed, as a strategic hedge.
- Inventory: Around 3,500 to 4,000 in the early 2020s, but this number has decreased with usage in conflicts and upgrades to newer variants, says Military.com and The Heritage Foundation.
- Usage: Significant numbers have been fired in recent years, impacting overall numbers, notes The Economic Times.
- Production: New procurement is slower than expenditure, with recent budgets requesting fewer than 100 new missiles annually, according to The Economic Times.
Air-Launched Cruise Missiles (Air Force)
- AGM-86 ALCM: In 2008, the Air Force maintained around 1,140, with some still in service in 2025, says Quora and Wikipedia.
- AGM-129 ACM: Around 460 were in the Air Force inventory in 2008, but this model has been retired, according to Quora.
- Nuclear Warheads: The U.S. holds a significant number (around 1,930 as of January 2025) of nuclear warheads in storage, not deployed, as a strategic reserve, according to The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
- Non-Nuclear: For conventional missiles, the “reserve” is part of the overall inventory, but usage against groups like Houthi rebels has depleted stockpiles faster than production, creating a potential shortfall, say The Economic Times and Responsible Statecraft.
AI Overview
Yes, Ukraine has received US-made Patriot systems (some operated by Israel) and is set to receive new US long-range air-launched cruise missiles like the ERAM, though direct Tomahawk transfers face limits; Israel is a major user of US air defense, but has not received offensive US cruise missiles like Ukraine is getting
. Ukraine uses US Patriots and is getting US-made long-range air-launched missiles, while Israel uses Patriots and might acquire Tomahawks, but the focus has been on Ukraine getting US offensive capabilities.
For Ukraine (US Missiles/Systems):
- Patriot Systems: Ukraine operates US-made Patriot air defense, including systems supplied by allies, with President Zelenskyy confirming an Israeli-operated Patriot battery in Ukraine as of late 2025.
- Long-Range Missiles: Ukraine is receiving U.S. Extended-Range Attack Munitions (ERAMs), a new, low-cost, long-range air-launched missile designed for hitting high-value targets.
- Tomahawks: While the Pentagon has approved potential Tomahawk transfers, logistical challenges with US Navy stockpiles make direct deliveries complex, though European allies might supply other long-range options.
For Israel (US Missiles/Systems):
- Patriot Systems: Israel operates US-developed Patriot systems and has transferred some to Ukraine, but also maintains its own powerful air defenses.
- Tomahawks: Israel has previously requested Tomahawk cruise missiles and could potentially acquire them under the current US administration, which is more open to increasing arms exports.
In Summary: Ukraine is receiving US offensive long-range missiles and defense systems, while Israel, a major US ally with advanced US-supplied air defense, has received Patriot systems from Israel, and may acquire Tomahawks.
AI Overview
Yes, NATO members, especially the U.S., possess significant cruise missile stockpiles (like Tomahawks, with thousands in inventory over time), but exact, current numbers aren’t public; however, reports from 2024-2025 indicate these stockpiles are being depleted faster than anticipated due to conflicts like Ukraine, and production increases are needed to keep up with demand, with some allies facing shortages
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NATO & Cruise Missile Stockpiles:
- U.S. Inventory: The U.S. has historically held large numbers of Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs), with estimates showing over 1,000 in the early 2000s and figures around 4,000 remaining in 2020, though this number has dropped.
- Depletion: The war in Ukraine highlighted that stockpiles of precision standoff weapons, including cruise missiles, are being used rapidly, creating significant demand for replenishment.
- Production Challenges: While the U.S. produces hundreds of Tomahawks annually (around 400-700), production expansion is a priority, but delivery to allies and even the Pentagon can face delays.
- Secrecy: The exact numbers of missiles in national stockpiles are not publicly disclosed for security reasons, requiring estimations from defense analysts.
Key Takeaway:
NATO nations have substantial, but finite, cruise missile reserves. Current events are straining these stockpiles, prompting efforts to boost production, though the overall status is one of ongoing consumption and efforts to restock.
AI Overview
China’s DF-21D And DF-26B ASBMs: Is The U.S. Military Ready …
No, the U.S. isn’t dependent on China to build its own cruise missiles; rather, the U.S. faces vulnerabilities in its defense supply chain, with significant reliance on Chinese-made components like semiconductors for various weapons, while China itself possesses massive, rapidly expanding missile production capabilities for its own advanced arsenal, posing strategic challenges. The U.S. defense industry struggles to scale up quickly, creating gaps that China’s massive, domestically-driven missile production seeks to exploit, impacting global power dynamics.
1 Like
Switch to affordable drones.
The Captain
2 Likes
Multiple video clips offer strong evidence that kamikaze drones were among the capabilities the U.S. military brought to bear during the operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro over the weekend.
This may have been the first real-world use of a new slate of U.S. long-range one-way attack drones and loitering munitions.
After years of being outpaced by lower-end drone developments overseas, there is now a significant new push across America’s armed forces, and the special operations community in particular, to dramatically step up the acquisition and fielding of various tiers of uncrewed one-way strike aircraft.
DB2
3 Likes
That explains this -
Gotta ramp up production if we’re kamikazeing military equipment.
2 Likes
The first I heard about drone warfare was the Azerbaijan-Armenia war.
The use of remotely piloted or autonomous aircraft, from now on called ‘drones’, has increased dramatically over the past two decades and has generated a debate on whether they are merely one more tool of war or a revolution in warfare. This debate escalated during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, but most articles simply stated opinions without providing actual data to support them.
Ukraine has shown that drones can level the playing field even against (supposed) superpowers.
The Captain
3 Likes
The complete ineffectiveness of air defenses in Venezuela (Russian SAM-300s and BUKs, Chinese anti-air radar) may have the Chinese reconsidering/postponing an invasion of Taiwan.
DB2
2 Likes
Please stop posting AI responses. We can all do that. We know how.
They’re too long and nobody except the original poster (you) bothers to read them.
You’ve been asked before. Please stop.
5 Likes
Please stop your non-stop looking to win a popularity contest as measured in likes. It is a crappy way to post at people.
You do not need to read them; then keep moving along. Other than that, never tell other people how to post. No one died and left you in charge.
It is insecurity on your part, the need to win a popularity contest.
Talk about arrogant, you have no comment on the subject. You’ve done this nonstop for years to a lot of people. Finding fault with AI is just another avenue for you to try and pump yourself up.
Wish I could block people here. You are being annoying.
1 Like
I’ll be honest with you. You are outdated.
AI is a collection of news articles. It takes citations to get materials used by AI.
You might as well tell people to stop posting news stories. Good luck.
Meanwhile do not annoy other posters. Stay on topic.