WASHINGTON: The US administration has directed defence companies to accelerate weapons production and speed up deliveries as military operations against Iran put pressure on some US weapons stockpiles, according to a report by The Washington Post citing a Defence Department memo.
Deputy Defence Secretary Steve Feinberg instructed defence industry leaders last Wednesday to submit detailed plans within 21 days aimed at substantially increasing production and shortening delivery timelines for critical military capabilities.
Exclusive: The Pentagon is asking the U.S. defense industry to rapidly escalate the production and delivery of weapons, including munitions that are in extreme shortage due to the war with Iran, according to a Defense Department memo obtained by The Post. https://t.co/4txzqSKNXg
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 8, 2026
In the memo, Feinberg called for “significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities”, stressing that lengthy development and procurement cycles could no longer be tolerated.
“Years-long development cycles are not acceptable,” Feinberg wrote, urging defence contractors and officials to “dramatically accelerate” programme schedules and expand production capacity immediately.
The directive comes amid growing reports that sustained US military operations are placing pressure on supplies of certain weapons, particularly Patriot air-defence interceptors, which are regarded as a critical component of efforts to counter incoming missiles.
The reported concerns have raised questions over the ability of the US defence industry to replenish high-demand munitions quickly while maintaining supplies for ongoing operations and other potential contingencies.
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US President Donald Trump, however, has rejected concerns about an ammunition shortage. He has maintained that the US military possesses substantial stocks of munitions and has sought to reassure the public that additional weapons are being produced and delivered as required.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the US had “massive amounts” of munitions and that “large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the US as needed”. The Pentagon has likewise sought to play down concerns about an immediate shortage of weapons.
According to Al Jazeera quoting a Defence Department official, the US currently has sufficient weapons to sustain its ongoing military operations. “We have sufficient munitions for the task at hand,” said Jarred Conley, principal deputy director at the Defence Department’s Defence Innovation Unit.
“The department has everything it needs today to execute a war,” Conley said. The contrasting statements highlight the growing importance of the US defence industrial base as the conflict with Iran continues.
While Pentagon officials insist that current operations can be sustained with available stocks, the administration’s demand for faster production indicates an effort to strengthen replenishment capacity and reduce the time required to deliver critical weapons.
The emphasis on expanding manufacturing capacity also reflects broader concerns over the ability of the US defence industry to respond rapidly to prolonged or simultaneous military demands.
Accelerating production could therefore become a key priority for the Pentagon as it seeks to maintain operational readiness while rebuilding stocks of high-demand munitions.
