US Navy using ammunition at “alarming rhythm” to defend Israel against Iran

The American navy used its ammunition at an “alarming pace” to defend Israel against the recent Iranian strikes, a military official said on Tuesday, raising legislators’ issues on how he intends to replace and maintain stocks in the midst of global threats.

Admiral James Kilby, head of acting naval operations, remarked in his testimony during an audience of the Senate credit committee on the Navy budget in Washington when Senator Brian Shatz, D-Hawaii, asked questions about the available ammunition of the Navy to defend himself against global threats.

“The last series of conflicts in the Middle East used large amounts of ammunition to defend Israel against Iranian strikes,” said Shattz. “Does the navy currently have all the SM-3s he needs for global threats?”

“We do it, sir”, replied Kilby, “but we are, to your point, using them at an alarming rate. As you know, they are missiles bought by the anti -missile defense agency, then delivered to the navy for our use. And we use them fairly effectively in the defense of Israel.”

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Kilby is represented above testifying before a senatorial committee of the hearing of armed services on Capitol Hill, June 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP photo / manual Balce Ceneta)

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A SM-3, or standard 3 missile, are missiles that the navy uses as defense to intercept and destroy ballistic and medium-range ballistic missiles.

A short-range SM-3 guided missile is taken from USS Lake Erie from USS of the US Navy off the coast of Hawaii on this photo taken on September 18, 2013. (Reuters / Us Navy / Handout via Reuters)

“We need more ammunition, air defense interceptors, long-range fires, artillery,” said Senator Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., During the hearing. “The recent conflict tells us that we need it much more.”

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McConnell asked how the Navy and the Marine Corps take up the challenge of these ammunition which were not produced quickly enough.

John Phelan, secretary of the navy, said that it was a main concern on which the officials concentrated to “repair”.

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“We are examining a number of different ways, including other parts and different ways to make some of these ammunition,” said Phelan. “This is an enormous priority of the Secretary of Defense and the President, and we devote as much effort and time as we are in shipbuilding.”