Pentagon presses defense firms to boost weapons production

The U.S. Department of Defense is pressing major weapons manufacturers to accelerate production, citing concern that American stockpiles have thinned after sustained military support to allies fighting in several ongoing conflicts. A Pentagon spokesman said the department is focused on speeding up munitions acquisitions to deliver "the weapons our warfighters need at the pace the threat demands."

Defense officials and lawmakers have warned for months that supply chains for artillery shells, missiles and other munitions have struggled to match demand as the United States continues arming partners abroad. Industry executives have pointed to bottlenecks in raw materials, specialized components and skilled labor as production lines work to expand capacity.

The Pentagon push adds pressure on contractors including Lockheed Martin, RTX and Northrop Grumman to invest in new manufacturing lines and hire additional workers. Congress is expected to weigh new funding measures aimed at expanding munitions output, while officials say restocking depleted inventories will likely take years rather than months.