Pentagon demands surge in arms production following Iran conflict
The Pentagon has urged US defence firms to rapidly increase production and delivery of weapons to replenish stockpiles depleted following the conflict with Iran. According to a Washington Post report citing a memo sent on Wednesday, Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg has instructed industry executives to submit plans within 21 days for a "significant and more aggressive acceleration" of delivery schedules and production capacity. Feinberg stated that multi-year development cycles are "unacceptable" and requested that contractors dramatically expedite project timelines. The memo also asks firms to propose specific investments in equipment and facilities to enable the Department of Defense to place larger, sustained orders. Contractors are expected to outline how they will collaborate with the government and demonstrate a willingness to share capital and risk. CNN reported last week that the US military has exhausted nearly 80 percent of its THAAD interceptor missiles and approximately 50 percent of its Patriot interceptors, leaving stocks at "dangerously" low levels. While the Pentagon has announced several framework agreements with contractors to boost production, the Washington Post noted that these are not firm contracts; the government will only commit to purchases once the relevant budget is approved by Congress. A $1.15 trillion defence spending bill remains stalled in Congress, with Democrats opposing major increases in defence expenditure. The memo follows a meeting at the White House late last month where defence executives were reportedly urged by senior officials to lobby Congress for increased funding, as previously reported by Fox News. On Thursday, Donald Trump denied reports of dissatisfaction with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth regarding the depletion of interceptor stocks. Reports suggest the shortage of interceptors was a primary concern for Trump and his senior advisors prior to the administration's decision to avoid escalating operations against Iran late last month.