US Defense Eyes Automakers for Weapons Production

Senior U.S. defense officials have begun preliminary discussions with top executives from major American manufacturers, including General Motors and Ford Motor Company, to explore producing weapons and military supplies amid rapidly depleting stockpiles from ongoing global conflicts.

The talks, which started before the recent U.S. military operations against Iran, involve leaders such as General Motors CEO Mary Barra and Ford CEO Jim Farley, according to individuals familiar with the matter. Officials from the Department of Defense have also engaged with executives at GE Aerospace and Oshkosh, a producer of vehicles and machinery. The conversations focus on whether these companies could quickly redirect factory space, workers, and production lines to support traditional defense contractors in manufacturing munitions, artillery systems, ammunition, and antitank missiles.

The push comes as the United States has drawn down billions of dollars in weapons inventories since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and Israel's operations in Gaza. Recent strikes on Iran have further strained supplies, prompting the Pentagon to seek ways to expand the nation's defense industrial base. In...