The White House plans to meet major U.S. defense contractors to accelerate weapons production as recent military operations, including strikes on Iran, strain Pentagon stockpiles.
Executives from companies such as Lockheed Martin and RTX, Raytheon’s parent company, have been invited to Friday’s meeting with senior administration officials.
Officials aim to speed up munitions manufacturing as the Pentagon works to replenish supplies used during recent Middle East operations.
Negotiations between the Pentagon and defense contractors have progressed slowly, raising concerns within the administration about the pace of production increases.
The government has also pressured contractors to prioritize manufacturing over shareholder payouts, following an executive order targeting companies underperforming on defense contracts.
U.S. stockpiles have declined significantly since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, which required large volumes of weapons.
Demand for advanced air defense systems such as PAC-3 and THAAD interceptors has surged as geopolitical tensions continue to escalate.
The discussions may coincide with a proposed $50 billion supplemental defense budget, intended to replace weapons used in recent military operations.
