Pentagon orders contractors to speed up weapons production

The Pentagon has ordered defense contractors to accelerate weapons production and delivery, warning that shrinking U.S. military stockpiles—exacerbated by the war with Iran—pose a serious risk to national security. In a memo sent Wednesday, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks gave firms a three-week deadline to outline plans for speeding up output of missiles, artillery shells, and other critical munitions. The move signals a major shift in Pentagon priorities, prioritizing rapid resupply over long-term development cycles.

Stockpiles have dwindled due to years of underinvestment, export demands, and the demands of supporting Ukraine against Russia—all while tensions with Iran have intensified military engagements in the Middle East. The conflict, which escalated sharply since October, has forced the U.S. to draw heavily from existing arsenals, leaving key munitions dangerously low. Iran’s ballistic missile program and proxy forces in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq have kept U.S. forces on high alert, further straining supply chains.

Defense analysts say the shortages are most acute for long-range precision munitions like Tomahawk cruise missiles and Patriot PAC-3 interceptors. Some stockpiles are now at levels not seen since the Cold War, raising concerns about America’s ability to respond to simultaneous crises. Contractors like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have already ramped up production lines for Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger air-defense systems, but production timelines remain slow due to supply chain bottlenecks and labor shortages.

Now, the Pentagon wants faster deliveries, with Hicks demanding weekly updates from contractors. If targets aren’t met, the government may redirect contracts, offer financial incentives, or even invoke the Defense Production Act to prioritize certain projects. The move reflects growing alarm that without immediate action, the U.S. could face a capability gap just as global threats multiply. It also highlights the broader challenge of balancing rapid military response with sustainable industrial capacity—one that risks outpacing America’s ability to replenish its arsenal in time.