More or Less US-Israel war with Iran: Do the gulf states have enough interceptor missiles?
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Mar 7, 2026 
Kelly Grieco, senior fellow at the Stimson Center with missile and regional security expertise, joins to explain the missile showdown in the Gulf. She breaks down why ballistic missiles are hard to stop. She outlines interceptor use rates, inventory estimates and production constraints. She contrasts ballistic threats with swarmy drones and what that means for long-term defense.
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Ballistic Missiles Require Expensive High End Interceptors
- Ballistic missiles are hard to stop and need high-end interceptors like the Patriot PAC-3 MSE.
- These interceptors cost about $4 million each and must hit fast, high-speed targets often described as 'shooting a bullet with a bullet.'
Reported Interception Rates May Overstate Actual Kills
- Gulf states reported very high interception counts (e.g., Kuwait 178/178, Qatar 101/98, UAE 196/181).
- Kelly Grieco warns wartime claims can overstate hits since debris is sometimes mistaken for successful intercepts.
Open Sources Suggest Gulf States Have About 1,800 Interceptors
- Open-source foreign military sale notices help estimate interceptor inventories, but actual purchases are classified.
- Research suggests Gulf states' top-end inventory totals roughly 1,800 interceptors combined.