The Pentagon has asked the US defense industry to drastically accelerate weapons production and supply, as the war with Iran has caused a huge consumption of ammunition and significantly reduced US reserves.

According to a Department of Defense memorandum, obtained by The Washington Post, defense industry companies have 21 days to submit concrete plans to accelerate deliveries and increase production capacity for systems considered critical.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg has made it clear to industry leaders that current rates are no longer sufficient.

"Multi-year development cycles are not acceptable," the memorandum states, calling for an immediate acceleration of programs and expansion of production capacity.

Missile stocks are declining

The war with Iran has consumed vast amounts of American ammunition. According to data cited by The Washington Post, in the first month of the conflict alone, the US used more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles, over 1,000 Patriot and THAAD interceptors, and more than 1,300 tactical ballistic missiles.

An analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates that global US stockpiles of Patriot missiles have fallen from about 2,200 before the war to fewer than 827, while THAAD stockpiles have dropped from 452 to fewer than 278.

These figures have increased concern in the Pentagon about the US's ability to withstand a prolonged conflict, while it must maintain capabilities for other possible scenarios in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

Pressure on the defense industry

Feinberg's memo is part of a broader effort by the US administration to transform the way the Pentagon buys and produces weapons.

In recent months, the Department of Defense has entered into framework agreements with large defense companies and startups to increase the production of low-cost munitions, as well as advanced air defense systems.

The focus is particularly on the PAC-3 and THAAD interceptor missiles. The Pentagon has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $58.6 billion, with the goal of tripling production of PAC-3 missiles by 2030.

The Trump administration is also asking major defense industry companies to pressure Congress to increase military funding.

Among the companies involved are Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Anduril and Palantir.

Problem: funds are not yet guaranteed; One of the main obstacles remains financing.

Framework agreements signed by the Pentagon do not necessarily constitute final contracts. They express the intent to purchase, but their implementation depends on funds that must be approved by Congress.

CSIS analyst Tom Karako described this as one of the main problems with the current system: many of the existing agreements are not yet funded orders.

The situation has been further complicated by the political debate in Congress over the defense bill, which foresees about $1.15 trillion in spending.

The Pentagon is looking for a new model

In his memo, Feinberg also identified several programs that should be accelerated in fiscal year 2028. Among them are a next-generation missile interception system, NASAMS, mobile air defense radars, an advanced pilot training program, and a space-based missile tracking system.

The Pentagon is asking companies to invest upfront in new capacity and facilities, offering in return the prospect of long-term, high-volume orders.

Some companies have already started to finance production expansion with their own funds, but this carries risks for publicly listed companies, as investments are made before government funding is guaranteed.

Essentially, the Pentagon's message is clear: The US no longer wants to wait years to produce the weapons it needs today. The war with Iran has exposed the limitations of the US defense industrial base, and the Trump administration is seeking to transform it at a much faster pace.