Pentagon asks defence firms to ramp up weapons production as Iran war drains stockpile

The US Pentagon is urging the country's defense industry to accelerate production of war resources, citing depleting arms stockpiles as a result of ongoing conflict with Iran. Defense spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the department is actively focused on boosting munitions acquisitions to provide weapons needed by warfighters at the required pace.

Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg sent a 21-day limit to industry leaders to submit plans for faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and increased production of critical capabilities. The memo to defense industries also aligns with the push to rebuild the defense industrial base, set to be included in the fiscal year 2028 budget submitted to Congress.

However, US Congress has stalled the defense spending bill, leading to opposition against the White House's request to increase Pentagon spending to $1.5 trillion, up from about $900 billion last year. This comes amid a study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) revealing a decline in the US military's stockpiles of Patriot and THAAD interceptors.