Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg has instructed major U.S. defense contractors to submit plans within 21 days to dramatically accelerate weapons production, according to the Washington Post. The directive comes as American missile and interceptor stockpiles have been severely depleted by months of sustained operations against Iran.
The Washington Post reported Sunday that Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg sent a memo to defense industry leaders this week demanding they submit plans within 21 days to dramatically accelerate weapons production and shorten delivery timelines. "Development cycles that take years are no longer acceptable in this era," Feinberg wrote, according to the report.
The directive follows severe depletion of U.S. missile and interceptor stockpiles after months of operations against Iran. According to the Post, in the first month alone the U.S. launched more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles, over 1,000 Patriot and THAAD interceptors, and more than 1,300 tactical ballistic missiles. A CSIS analysis cited in the report indicates global Patriot interceptor stocks fell from approximately 2,200 before the war to fewer than 827, while THAAD interceptor stocks dropped from 452 to fewer than 278.
As The Zioneer reported earlier this morning, the Pentagon has been pushing for accelerated production. The Post report adds that the Pentagon signed framework agreements with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to increase PAC-3 and THAAD production, and Lockheed Martin received a contract worth up to $58.6 billion to triple PAC-3 output by 2030. The Pentagon is also turning to newer technology firms including Anduril, Castelion, and CoAspire.
A key obstacle remains funding: many agreements are not yet binding contracts, as financing depends on congressional approval. The report also notes tension between President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the munitions shortage, with Trump claiming the U.S. has "vast quantities" of munitions while the Pentagon acts urgently to expand the industrial base.
8 developments
- DevelopingWashington Post: months of fighting Iran depleted US Patriot and THAAD interceptor stocks, official says
- DevelopingFox News: Pentagon interceptor stocks declining, weighing future of limited Iran strikes
- DevelopingUS facing dwindling Patriot and THAAD missile stockpiles, report says
- StrongPentagon pushes to accelerate weapons production as Iran war depletes munitions, report says
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