Expanding US arms production will take years, as current capacity does not allow for a rapid increase in the production of ammunition and weapons systems against the backdrop of rising military spending and depletion of stocks.
This is reported by The New York Times, citing sources in the leadership of US President Donald Trump and Congress, as well as defense experts.
The Pentagon confirmed that arms stocks have already been reduced due to supplies to Ukraine and military operations in the Middle East, including strikes on Iranian targets as part of Operation “Midnight Hammer“ in 2025.
“We have never built up our ammunition stockpiles to the level necessary for military planning, especially when it comes to the possibility of waging a major war“, the newspaper quoted Todd Harrison, a defense budget expert at the American Enterprise Institute. According to him, at the current level of resource spending, the United States is “far from prepared“ for major conflicts.
According to the acting chief financial officer of the Pentagon, Jules Hurst, quoted by the publication, the cost of the military operation against Iran has already reached approximately $ 25 billion, although experts believe that the final figure will be higher.
Jim Tayklet, head of the American defense industry corporation Lockheed Martin, said that the company is ready to expand production of the Patriot and THAAD systems, but this is possible only after funding is approved. “We will act in accordance with the orders of the Pentagon“, he noted.
According to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the current priority remains meeting national needs. Earlier, he announced a delay in the delivery of HIMARS systems to Estonia, citing a reallocation of resources. “We must take into account the current threats and the real needs of the American military“, he noted.
Earlier, in an interview with CNBC, Trump said that US defense companies are increasing their production capacity because the United States needs more weapons.
“We have factories. Raytheon (the US defense company that develops the Patriot air defense system) is building five right now. Lockheed is building three or four. They are all building factories because we need to fit into the process. We don't want you to order a Patriot and they say, "We'll get it to you, sir, in three and a half years. We need it in a week," the president stressed.