Are Gulf Countries Running Out of Anti-Drone Missile Stocks? The Scenario No One Predicted

Between February 28 and March 4, 2026, an unprecedented wave of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles was launched by Iran against the Gulf countries, Israel, and U.S. bases. The offensive, triggered in response to the U.S.-Israel joint raids on Iranian territory, sparked an acute crisis in the region's air defenses, forcing cities and infrastructure to cope with constant sirens and alerts.

The numbers are impressive and outline the contours of a calculated wear: in a single operational span, the United Arab Emirates intercepted up to 172 ballistic missiles out of the 186 claimed by Tehran. However, the math of this defense is ruthless. Each threat requires the deployment of one, two, or even three interceptors to be safely neutralized, coordinating layered systems that range from short to long range. This is where the drama of the "asymmetric economy" of the conflict emerges: Iran saturates the skies with drones costing a few thousand dollars, forcing Arab states to consume interceptors that cost hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars each. Furthermore, according to American estimates, Tehran boasts an industrial capacity capable of churning out drones and missiles at a rapid pace, while Western production of high-end defense weapons proceeds inexorably at a slow pace.

The consequences of this imbalance have not been long in coming. Officials from two Gulf countries raised the alarm through CBS News, stating that interceptor stocks are "dangerously depleting". The perception of an extreme vulnerability in the face of new waves has prompted governments in the region to urgently request Washington to accelerate the shipment of military supplies and establish preferential logistical channels. Despite the facade reassurances from some regional figures, who claim the systems are still well-stocked to reassure citizens, the pace at which reserves are dwindling generates deep unease.

For its part, Washington has responded by establishing a task force ad hoc to coordinate supplies, a signal that has been positively received but deemed by partners as "not yet sufficient" given the urgency of the operational timeline. The Pentagon, however, seeks to maintain a firm line of reassurance. On March 4, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, stated categorically that the United States has "sufficient precision munitions for the task at hand".

Yet, behind the firmness of official statements, the emergency machinery is in motion. The White House has urgently convened the defense industry to address the crucial issue of scalability and production timelines in light of a conflict that risks prolonging. If the pressure does not ease, the rain of Iranian missiles could exhaust defenses not due to technological ineffectiveness, but simply due to the relentless depletion of munitions.