The U.S. Army is requesting a significant increase in Patriot missile procurement, aiming to quadruple its Patriot Advanced Capability-3 stockpile from 3,376 to 13,773 units in the 2026 defense budget, according to Meghann Myers of DefenseOne. The move comes amid heightened global tensions and a growing demand for air defense, particularly in the US Central Command, following recent attacks in the Middle East. Experts, including CSIS’s Tom Karako, describe the shift as a long-overdue response to munitions shortfalls. The Army is also expanding 155mm artillery production, aiming to produce 100,000 rounds per month by October of this year, up from 14,500 in early 2022. Myers writes:
The U.S. Army has asked for a big boost to its Patriot air defense stockpile in the 2026 budget request, as the service drives to increase its “magazine depth” for various munitions.
The acquisition goal for the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile segment enhancements would quadruple—from 3,376 to 13,773—if Congress grants the Pentagon’s request, according to procurement justification documents released by the Army. […]
The investment in Patriots comes as the Pentagon is doing a wider review of its weapons stockpiles, which resulted earlier this month in a temporary pause of promised munitions transfers to Ukraine. […]
“While on one hand we are very pleased with the progress that we’ve made, we understand that that progress is slow,” Warren said.
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