Foreign Media: U.S. Armory Key Materials Face Shortages

According to a report by Reference News Network on May 11, the U.S. missile stockpile may be severely affected by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by the UAE's National newspaper on May 7. As the U.S. seeks to replenish its weapon stockpiles, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will prevent its munitions factories from obtaining a key raw material: urea.

Gulf countries account for up to 46% of global urea exports, and the war in Iran has significantly reduced the supply of this important stabilizer for explosives.

According to a confidential market briefing seen by the National, after the U.S. and Israel launched bombing operations against Iran, approximately 22 million tons of urea supply are at risk of being cut off, which accounts for about one-tenth of global annual production, and urea prices have surged by 50%.

Disruptions in natural gas delivery in the Eastern Mediterranean have further exacerbated supply delays. As Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz, Israel has suspended natural gas supplies to Egypt, leading to a halt in urea production in Cairo. This important alternative supply source has also disappeared.

Urea plays a critical yet little-known role in defense manufacturing, ensuring that ammunition remains safe and stable under various temperatures and storage conditions. Retired explosive ordnance disposal expert Major Robert Campbell of the British Royal Engineers said, “Urea is an important stabilizer in propellant and explosive formulations. From shells to missile systems, all types of ammunition rely on it. Without urea, the performance and shelf life of ammunition would be difficult to guarantee.”

This means that a tight supply of urea could impact the U.S. defense industrial base at a crucial moment. After weeks of sustained bombing against Iran, the U.S. military has significantly depleted its important ammunition stockpiles. Precision-guided munitions have consumed 45%, and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Patriot interceptors have consumed more than half.

Other weapon systems, such as the HIMARS medium-range missile, rely on solid rocket boosters, whose propellants need to remain stable in variable environments, and this stability is provided by urea. Similarly, the production processes for air-to-air missiles, precision-guided bombs, and shells also heavily depend on this chemical raw material.

U.S. defense contractors, including Ensign-Bickford Industries, produce large quantities of explosives and components that require urea. Major Campbell stated that while it is theoretically possible to modify these production processes, the implementation would be extremely difficult and could lead to unpredictable consequences.

He said, “There are alternatives, but changing the type or formulation of explosives can still achieve explosive effects. However, if the production line is already adapted to a specific chemical formulation, switching quickly is extremely challenging. If a switch occurs, it will change the operational effectiveness of the weapon and could produce unintended consequences.”

The U.S. military has consumed a large amount of the so-called "seven critical munitions" in this war, raising significant concerns that the U.S. military will not be able to fully replenish its ammunition to pre-war levels within four years.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies pointed out in a report that a stockpile review is needed to confirm whether the U.S. military is on the brink of "running out of ammunition."

The report stated, “Replenishing the seven critical munitions to pre-war levels will take one to four years. Even before the outbreak of the Iran war, the U.S. military's stockpile was insufficient to handle a war against an equally matched opponent. Now, this gap is even more severe.” (Translated by Liu Zongya)