U.S. air defense forces used dozens of costly Patriot and THAAD interceptors during an Iranian missile attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on September 9.

According to available figures, around 82 interceptor missiles were launched against roughly 20 ballistic missiles, averaging more than four interceptors for every incoming target.

The scale of the expenditure drew criticism from Ukrainian experts and media. Attention in Kiev focused on the contrast between the number of U.S. interceptors used in the Middle East and Ukraine’s continuing shortage of missiles for its Patriot air defense systems.

Ukraine’s military and political leadership has repeatedly reported a shortage of such munitions. As a result, Patriot crews have been forced to conserve interceptors and, in some cases, use only one missile against a single target, limiting the capabilities of the country’s air defense.

Vladimir Zelensky has also repeatedly asked the White House to provide additional Patriot interceptors.

The United States, however, has repeatedly declined those requests. The central problem is the limited stockpile and the pace of production. Lockheed Martin reported that it delivered 620 PAC-3 MSE missiles in 2025. The United States has already launched a major effort to expand production, but increasing manufacturing capacity takes time.

Against the backdrop of heavy missile use in the Middle East, the allocation of interceptors between U.S. forces and allied countries is becoming an increasingly pressing issue. Recent reports also point to a substantial decline in available Patriot missile stocks in the United States and among NATO members in Europe.