Clark Says 1,700 Patriot Missiles Used in Iran War Spur Indo-Pacific Upgrade

2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 14

Gen. Ronald Clark said shifting Patriot and some THAAD defenses from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East has not raised regional risk, arguing the move is helping U.S. forces modernize their air-defense posture.
Clark said combat deployments are giving Patriot crews real-world experience, while upgraded batteries can now deliver coverage that previously required an entire battalion.
The reassurance comes despite strain on inventories: a Congressional Research Service report said the Iran conflict consumed about 1,700 Patriot and 200 THAAD interceptors, and the Pentagon inspector general has flagged shortfalls and production bottlenecks.
Clark said China is still building military capability despite recent Trump-Xi diplomatic outreach, and he backed reviving U.S.-China disaster-response exchanges as a way to preserve communication and reduce the risk of war.
His comments fit a broader U.S. Army push in the Pacific, where Clark said resources are at their highest in his career, including added divisions, a corps headquarters and land-based strike capabilities aimed at deterring China.