Pentagon seeks accelerated production amid missile shortages

The United States is facing significant missile and defense system shortages due to high consumption rates during the war with Iran. This depletion is causing potential delivery delays of up to five years for allied nations, including Germany and countries on Europe’s eastern flank.

Defense Secretary Subsecretary Steve Feinberg recently issued a memorandum requesting defense companies to propose accelerated production schedules and increased capacity for 16 critical programs. These proposals aim to support the department’s fiscal year 2028 budget request. While the Pentagon has not publicly disclosed how many companies responded, the pressure on inventories is evident.

According to analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), U.S. stocks of Patriot interceptors dropped from approximately 2,330 before the war to between 759 and 827 by late July. THAAD stocks also saw a significant decline, falling from 452 to between 234 and 278 units. Other impacted systems include Tomahawk cruise missiles and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM). To address these gaps, Washington has entered agreements, such as a $3 billion deal in August, intended to triple Patriot interceptor production and quadruple THAAD production.