U.S. Deploys Significant Share of Stealth Missile Arsenal in Iran Conflict

The United States is committing a substantial portion of its inventory of long-range stealth cruise missiles to its military campaign against Iran, according to reports by The Jerusalem Post and Bloomberg.

The AGM-158 JASSM-ER missiles have been launched from platforms such as the B-52 Stratofortress and B-1B Lancer, as well as strike fighters. (Photo: Robert Frola Flickr)

The weapons in question include the AGM-158 JASSM-ER, a long-range, low-observable cruise missile produced by Lockheed Martin. These missiles have been launched from platforms such as the B-52 Stratofortress and B-1B Lancer, as well as strike fighters.

Officials have favored standoff weapons like the JASSM-ER to reduce risks to personnel while targeting infrastructure from a distance.

While reports suggest heavy usage, committing inventory does not necessarily mean the entire stockpile will be expended.

According to Bloomberg, more than 1,000 of these missiles may have been used in the early weeks of the conflict, though such figures remain difficult to independently verify.

The US has procured over 6,000 JASSM missiles since 2009, with production ongoing and the capacity to scale up if needed.

Despite claims by US and Israeli officials that significant portions of Iran’s air defenses have been degraded, recent incidents — including reported aircraft losses and drone shootdowns — underscore continued operational risks.