The Washington Post has reported that the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) is pressuring US defense companies to rapidly produce weapons and ammunition as the war with Iran has depleted military stockpiles.
The newspaper reported on Saturday evening, August 8, that the directive was issued by Steve Feinberg, the US deputy secretary of defense, in a memo to defense industry companies.
According to the report, the Pentagon has asked US defense companies to increase the pace of weapons production and delivery, including ammunition facing severe shortages due to the war with Iran.
The Pentagon has warned defense companies that they have no more than 21 days to submit plans for the rapid and aggressive production and delivery of weapons.
This comes as weapons shortages have become a source of tension between US President Donald Trump and the Defense Department.
However, the US Army’s inventory of Patriot missiles has reportedly fallen from 2,200 before the war to fewer than 827, while THAAD missiles have declined from 452 to fewer than 278.
