Pentagon officials reportedly ‘concerned’ over American readiness levels Analyst: ‘Both of those wars are extended conflicts, which was not part of US defense planning’ LONDON: US stockpiles of air-defense missiles are running low amid surging demand in Israel and Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported. Pentagon officials and analysts are reportedly “concerned” over US readiness due to an inability to produce new missiles faster than they are being used. More than 100 Standard Missiles have been launched since the Hamas attack against Israel last October. The interceptors were used to counter the two Iranian missile and drone attacks on Israel, as well as strikes from Yemen’s Houthi militia. “The US has not developed a defense industrial base intended for a large-scale war of attrition in both Europe and the Middle East, while meeting its own readiness standards,” Elias Yousif, deputy director of the Conventional Defense Program at the Stimson Center, told the WSJ. “And both of those wars are extended conflicts, which was not part of US defense planning.” Washington cannot publicly disclose its stockpile strength due to security concerns. Pentagon officials said there are no plans to increase production of Standard Missiles. “Over the course of the last year, the Department of Defense has augmented our force posture in the region to protect US forces and support the defense of Israel, while always taking into account US readiness and stockpiles,” Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told the WSJ.