U.S. allowing Iranian missiles through some defenses, NBC reports
Two senior U.S. officials told NBC News commanders are conserving interceptor missiles as Pentagon supplies shrink.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
2 min read
The U.S. allowing Iranian missiles and attack drones to pass through some air defenses is an intentional move by military commanders, according to a report from NBC News.
Two senior U.S. officials told NBC News that commanders are letting some Iranian projectiles get through as part of an effort to conserve the Pentagon’s shrinking supply of missiles used to shoot them down. NBC News’ Courtney Kube reported the development on July 24.
The report did not identify the officials by name. NBC attributed the information to two senior U.S. officials.
Why is the U.S. allowing Iranian missiles through?
According to NBC News, the reason is ammunition management: military commanders are trying to preserve a limited and shrinking stock of defensive missiles. Those defensive missiles are used to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and attack drones.
That means commanders are not treating every incoming projectile the same way, based on the NBC report. Some are being allowed through air defenses rather than being met with a missile fired to destroy them.
NBC’s report did not say where the projectiles were being allowed through, how many missiles or drones were involved, or whether any damage resulted. It also did not give a timeline for when commanders began using the approach.
The reported tactic points to a basic pressure point in missile defense: every interception costs a defensive missile. If the supply of those missiles falls, commanders may have to decide which threats are worth spending interceptors on, according to the logic described by the officials in NBC’s report.
What did NBC News report?
NBC News reported three core facts from the officials:
- U.S. military commanders are intentionally letting some Iranian projectiles pass through air defenses.
- The projectiles include Iranian missiles and attack drones.
- The reason, according to the officials, is to protect the Pentagon’s shrinking supply of missiles used to shoot them down.
The report aired as a short segment on NBC Nightly News. Courtney Kube, who covers national security and the Pentagon for NBC News, reported the story.
No public statement from the Pentagon was included in NBC’s summary of the report. The report also did not include a response from Iranian officials.
For now, the central detail is stark: according to NBC News, some Iranian missiles and drones are getting past U.S. air defenses by design, as commanders weigh incoming threats against the limited stockpile of interceptors available to stop them.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.