politics

March 17, 2026

Dwindling stockpiles and soaring costs: US allies struggle to contain Iranian attacks

France is reportedly running low on air-launched interceptor missiles it uses to take down Iranian drones over the UAE

Dwindling stockpiles and soaring costs: US allies struggle to contain Iranian attacks

TL;DR

  • France is experiencing an escalating shortage of air-to-air missiles used to intercept Iranian kamikaze drones over the UAE.
  • The cost of French MICA missiles (€600,000-€700,000) is significantly higher than the Iranian drones they intercept.
  • MBDA, the producer of MICA missiles, faces manufacturing capacity constraints and requires guaranteed purchases to expand production.
  • The UAE and Israel are also reportedly facing depletion of their missile defense systems.
  • The US claims to have unlimited weapon stockpiles but is moving assets, like THAAD systems, from other regions to support operations.
  • Iran claims to possess large, hidden stockpiles of missiles and drones, potentially giving them an advantage as opponents' defenses dwindle.

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