Pentagon urges US defense firms to speed up arms and ammunition deliveries

The US Department of Defense has requested that American defense companies expedite the production and delivery of weapons and ammunition.

The Washington Post published excerpts from an official memo stating that US Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg told defense industry executives they have 21 days to submit plans to accelerate weapons delivery timelines.

In meetings with major arms manufacturers, the deputy secretary focused on critical weapons programs, including the next generation of interceptor missiles, noting that the department is undertaking a comprehensive overhaul of how it develops, produces, and deploys military capabilities to address emerging challenges.

The Department of Defense confirmed that the official memo on ramping up military manufacturing will help shape the fiscal year 2028 budget, as part of a broader effort to rebuild the US defense industrial base and accelerate weapons development and production.

Previous US media reports suggested that the military's ammunition stockpiles had declined due to the war with Iran, but President Donald Trump categorically denied these claims. The Pentagon's renewed call for increased weapons production has brought the issue back into focus.