The Pentagon is pressing U.S. defense contractors to sharply accelerate weapons production as the war with Iran further depletes inventories of critical munitions.

Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg gave industry leaders 21 days to submit proposals for faster deliveries and increased production of priority weapons, according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the initiative, saying it is part of a broader effort to rebuild the U.S. defense industrial base that began before the five-month conflict with Iran, the Associated Press reported.

The push comes amid concerns about supplies of advanced missile interceptors, particularly Patriot and THAAD systems used to defend against ballistic missiles and other aerial threats.

Interceptor stockpiles fall

The U.S. inventory of Patriot interceptors may have fallen by at least 65% since before the Iran conflict, according to estimates from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

CSIS estimated the stockpile at between 759 and 827 interceptors following the latest fighting, compared with about 2,330 before the war.

THAAD inventories also remain substantially below prewar levels. CSIS estimated that the stockpile stands between 234 and 278 interceptors, at least 38% below its prewar level of about 452.

Lower inventories could force the U.S. and its allies to become more selective about when and how many interceptors they use if fighting intensifies again.

For defense investors, the Pentagon’s demand for faster production could translate into additional orders, capacity investments and longer-term opportunities for contractors throughout the missile and munitions supply chain. The 21-day deadline also signals greater urgency about rebuilding inventories after years of heavy weapons consumption. The biggest constraint may be how quickly manufacturers can expand factories, secure components and increase output, particularly for sophisticated missile systems with long production lead times.

Spending fight looms

President Donald Trump has disputed suggestions that the U.S. faces a munitions shortage, saying inventories remain substantial and additional weapons are being manufactured.

The Pentagon nevertheless is looking for industry proposals that could influence its fiscal 2028 budget request.

That effort faces uncertainty in Congress. A defense spending bill is stalled amid opposition to the administration’s military campaign against Iran and resistance to a White House proposal to increase Pentagon spending to $1.5 trillion, from about $900 billion last year.

For contractors, however, the Pentagon’s message is increasingly clear: replenishing America’s weapons inventories isn’t simply about replacing what has already been fired. The military wants the industrial capacity to produce critical weapons much faster if another sustained conflict erupts.

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