New Delhi, Aug. 28 -- WASHINGTON - The calculus behind the phrase "beyond critical" is not one a defense department volunteers readily. But as of Wednesday, that was the assessment circulating in NATO planning circles about the state of US Patriot missile interceptor stocks in Europe, a consequence of the missile transfers that have flowed steadily out of European pre-positioning toward the Iranian theater since Trump ordered direct military engagement earlier this year.

The disclosure, first reported by The Associated Press citing current and former defense officials, described US stocks of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors in Europe as having dropped to a level that defense planners categorize as below minimum operational read...