Pentagon demands defense firms accelerate weapons production

The Pentagon is demanding major defense companies accelerate weapons production and delivery schedules, citing concerns over stockpiles strained by the ongoing war with Iran. In a memo dated August 5, Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg told industry leaders they have until late August to submit plans for "significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities." The directive targets systems including wide-area surveillance, air-defense sensors and interceptors, missile-tracking systems, and satellite communications.

Feinberg emphasized that "yearslong development cycles are not acceptable" and called for a dramatic acceleration of program schedules and expansion of production capacity. The memo was sent to major contractors including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and RTX. The Pentagon confirmed the existence of the memo, with chief spokesman Sean Parnell stating that working with industry to accelerate production "has been the clear intent of the President and this Secretary from the start."

The push comes amid growing warnings about the state of U.S. weapons stockpiles as the military conducts operations in Iran and...