Trump administration to meet defence contractors to accelerate weapons production

The administration of US President Donald Trump will hold a meeting on March 6 at the White House with top defence contractors to discuss speeding up weapons production, Reuters reports, citing sources.

Sources note that the Iranian operation has significantly depleted ammunition stocks. Since 2022, following the start of the war in Ukraine and Israeli military operations in Gaza, the US has spent billions of dollars on weaponry—from artillery systems and shells to anti-tank missiles. According to Reuters sources, the conflict with Iran has required even more long-range missiles than those supplied to Ukraine.

At the White House meeting, manufacturers are expected to be encouraged to accelerate production. Companies and official bodies have so far declined to comment: Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon, and the White House did not respond to journalists’ inquiries, while RTX declined to issue statements. Earlier, Trump claimed on social media that the US has “virtually unlimited” ammunition stocks.

Following strikes on Iran, the US used Tomahawk cruise missiles, F-35 fighter jets, and attack drones. Tomahawk manufacturer Raytheon has signed an agreement with the Pentagon to gradually increase production to 1,000 missiles per year. In 2026, the Pentagon plans to purchase 57 such missiles at an average cost of about $1.3 million each.

The administration is also pressuring contractors to prioritise fulfilling contracts and ramping up production over shareholder payouts. In January, Trump signed an executive order to identify companies failing to meet obligations. The Pentagon is expected to publish a list of such contractors, who will have 15 days to submit board-approved plans for corrective action. Failure to comply could lead to measures up to contract termination.