Fact Check: Does the US have more munitions than it could use?

WASHINGTON, DC: A claim about the US military’s weapons stockpiles is drawing attention after President Donald Trump said the country has more munitions than it could use.

Trump made the statement on September 22, as concerns continued over US weapons supplies after months of fighting with Iran.

The claim comes as reports have raised questions about the availability of some US weapons, including missile interceptors and other munitions used during the conflict. Let’s fact-check the claim.

Claim: Trump says the US has more munitions than it could ever use

Trump shared, "We have more munitions than we could ever possibly even think of using, and we’re building them at levels that we have never done before.”

Trump made the statement while rejecting reports that the US military was running low on weapons. He also said the US was adding to its stockpiles faster than ever and that 18 new munitions plants were under construction.

The claim comes after months of fighting with Iran, during which US forces have used large numbers of missiles and other weapons.

Other reports have also raised concerns about the time required to replace some of the weapons used during the conflict. CSIS and other defense analysts have estimated that replenishing heavily used systems could take several years, even as the Pentagon works to increase production.

This has created a debate over the difference between the US military's overall ammunition supply and the availability of specific weapons systems.

While the administration has highlighted increased production and new manufacturing capacity, the claim that the US has more munitions than it could use needs to be examined against current stockpile levels and the pace of replenishment.

Fact Check: Trump's claim is false

The claims are false. Reports and defense experts say the US has used large amounts of some important weapons during the war with Iran.

Defense analysts have reported declines in some key weapons, including Patriot and THAAD missile interceptors and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

A Center for Strategic and International Studies analysis in July estimated that US Patriot inventories had fallen below 1,000 and THAAD inventories to about 250.

In August, US and NATO officials told The Associated Press that US stocks of Patriot missile interceptors in Europe had reached “beyond critical” levels.

They said the shortage was largely linked to the war with Iran and could make it harder for NATO countries to respond to a possible Russian attack.

One US defense official said the shortage of Patriot interceptors was the biggest concern. A NATO official also confirmed that US and NATO forces in Europe had low Patriot stocks. Both officials spoke anonymously because they were discussing sensitive military information.