The Pentagon has issued an urgent directive to US defense contractors, ordering them to accelerate the production and delivery of critical weaponry. This move comes as ongoing conflict in Iran has significantly drained United States munitions stockpiles, creating a pressing need for replenishment.
In a memo issued on Wednesday, Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg instructed industry leaders to submit plans within 21 days. The directive demands that firms “drive significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities.” Feinberg emphasized that the current situation requires immediate action, stating, “Years-long development cycles are not acceptable. We must dramatically accelerate our programme schedules and expand our production capacity now.”
The Pentagon is specifically looking to replenish its reserves of Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors. Data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies indicates a sharp decline in these inventories; Patriot missile stocks have fallen from approximately 2,200 before the conflict to fewer than 827, while THAAD interceptor levels have dropped from 452 to less than 278.
While the Department of Defense has attempted to establish framework agreements with major technology and defense firms to bolster production, these agreements remain nonbinding and rely heavily on congressional funding. Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted the difficulty of the current situation, stating, “Almost nothing has been contracted, and that's the problem.”
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the existence of the Feinberg memo. He noted that the directive is consistent with broader efforts to rebuild the US defense industrial base and will serve to inform the fiscal year 2028 budget submission to Congress. However, these efforts face potential delays as a $1.15 trillion defense spending bill remains stalled in the legislative process.
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