Air Force Runs Low on Cruise Missiles, Leaves Pentagon Exposed

Strategic Insights -

The Air Force has utilized about a third of its 150 AGM-86C cruise missiles, leaving only 100 of the $1.16 million weapons in its inventory. This shortage has raised concerns among Pentagon officials, who worry that pilots may have to fly closer to the battle zone or use weaker sea-launched missiles. Experts believe that the Air Force's reliance on cruise missiles is a result of their powerful 2,000- or 3,000-pound warheads, which can target heavily fortified areas.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Air Force has used about a third of its 150 AGM-86C cruise missiles, leaving only 100 in its inventory.
  • The cruise missiles are the preferred choice due to their powerful 2,000- or 3,000-pound warheads and ability to target heavily fortified areas.
  • The Air Force was planning to order 92 more cruise missiles, but the request hasn't yet reached the missile-maker, Boeing Corp.
  • The shortage of air-launched cruise missiles highlights the vulnerability of the United States to multiple armed conflicts, such as those in Yugoslavia and Iraq.
  • Outside experts believe that the shortage is a result of bad planning and showcases the United States' reliance on cruise missiles in the post-Cold War era.
  • The conversion process for the cruise missiles from old nuclear weapons to usable ones takes approximately 25 months, as stated by Boeing records.
  • The Clinton administration's talk about using cruise missiles has been contradicted by the lack of resources and planning to support such actions.
  • The use of sea-launched missiles, such as the Tomahawks, would result in a smaller punch and would be less effective in targeting heavily fortified areas.

Statistics:

  • The Air Force has used about a third of its 150 AGM-86C cruise missiles.
  • 112 air-launch cruise missiles were sent from the Louisiana base to the Royal Air Force base in Fairford, England, just a month ago.
  • 55 of the $750,000 Tomahawk missiles have been used by the Navy.
  • The Navy has ordered more than 300 additional Tomahawks from Raytheon Systems Co. in Arizona.
  • The conversion process for the cruise missiles from old nuclear weapons to usable ones takes approximately 25 months.

Sources:

  • Ken Bacon, Pentagon spokesman
  • Zalmay Khalilzad, director of strategic studies at the Rand Corp. and former assistant deputy undersecretary of defense
  • John Hillen, senior fellow for political and military affairs at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
  • Chick Ramey, Boeing Corp. spokesman
  • Dov Zakheim, former deputy undersecretary of defense
  • Philip Gold, director of defense and aerospace studies at the Discovery Institute in Seattle
  • Col. Floyd Carpenter, commander of the B-52s in England
  • Defense Department official
  • Boeing Corp. records
  • Raytheon Systems Co. records
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