All articles tagged with #munitions
As the Iran conflict enters its sixth month, Tehran resists concessions while the U.S. faces munitions shortages and mounting wear aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, prompting whispers of an off-ramp as officials and GOP allies grow uneasy ahead of the midterms, with new questions raised by a secret Air Force One plane switch and claims of decimated Iranian capabilities that critics say undercut the war’s rationale.
President Trump vowed to hunt down leakers after reports that the U.S. and its allies have burned through most of their offensive missiles (ATACMS, PrSMs) and are running low on Patriot and THAAD interceptors amid the US-Israel war on Iran, with replenishment expected to take years. He denied strategic disadvantage, claimed vast production, and branded leakers as treasonous, while a Washington Post report alleged Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth misled him about shortages. Experts warn the interceptor shortfall harms deterrence and could raise the risk of miscalculation as the conflict continues.
Donald Trump rejected reports of a US weapons shortage, claiming the country has massive munitions stockpiles and is increasing production, while threatening long prison terms for leakers; the remarks appear amid scrutiny of US weapon use in the Iran conflict and broader debates over Patriot missiles and aid to Ukraine.
Senate Republicans are warming to using a third reconciliation package to replenish the Pentagon’s depleted munitions stocks, contingent on House Speaker Johnson advancing a multi-step plan (rule, stopgap funding, and a budget resolution). The White House signals a fallback stopgap to avert a shutdown as Trump pressures for the budget step; however, support for reconciliation 3.0 remains nuanced, with some Republicans seeking offsets and others wary, while the Senate waits on House progress to determine how far to push the package.
During a Face the Nation interview, Pete Hegseth argued that the United States has strong, growing munitions stockpiles and is accelerating production, while Margaret Brennan pressed him on what she described as a private-sector stockpile crisis; Hegseth defended expansion and international co-production, noting past testimony that rebuilding could take years, and the exchange touched on Ukraine aid and Europe paying for munitions.
Analyst Mahnken argues that U.S. wars are rarely quick; to prevail in extended conflicts (as with Iran), the United States must combine high-end capability with mass by expanding long-term munitions production, hardening bases, and strengthening the defense industrial base, while relying on allies and adopting new technologies (long-range munitions, directed energy, satellites) and layered defenses to deter and win protracted campaigns across multiple theaters.
A suspected World War II-era bomb exploded beneath a stilt house in a fishing village in Indonesia's Papua region, killing five people and injuring about 19, with nine homes destroyed and several people missing as authorities search the area.
A CSIS analysis concludes that replenishing U.S. inventories of Tomahawk missiles and Patriot/THAAD interceptors—heavily used in the Iran conflict—will take several years. Projections place Tomahawk replenishment around 2030 and Patriot/THAAD by 2029, meaning a prolonged vulnerability even as defense spending and production capacity expand. Some officials insist inventories are sufficient for a range of scenarios, but experts warn lead times and complex supply chains limit how quickly stockpiles can be rebuilt in a future conflict with China.
A CSIS analysis estimates that following the 38-day Iran campaign, the United States will need several years to restore key munitions inventories to prewar levels, with Tomahawk stockpiles potentially back by 2030–2031 and THAAD interceptors by 2029–2030. While current stocks are deemed sufficient for plausible scenarios, the report warns of a multi-year window of vulnerability as production capacity is expanded to close the gap.
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao says the $14 billion Taiwan weapons package is paused to ensure the U.S. has enough munitions for operations against Iran (Epic Fury), with foreign military sales to Taiwan resuming when the administration deems appropriate. Trump has not committed to moving forward with the sale, and the package has languished on his desk for months after a record $11 billion Taiwan sale in 2025.
Internal assessments reviewed by CBS News indicate the Iran war's cost is about $50 billion to date, roughly double the $25 billion Pentagon figure cited in congressional testimony, driven mainly by munitions use and replacement costs (including 24 MQ-9 drones) plus uncertain future base construction and higher fuel costs; experts warn total costs will continue rising.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Trump administration asked Ford and General Motors to explore producing weapons and other military supplies, with CEO discussions to assess the automakers' capacity to rapidly shift from civilian to defense production to backstop traditional defense contractors amid munitions shortages. The talks, led by Mary Barra and Jim Farley, examined barriers to bidding and contract requirements, and come as the Pentagon urges expanding the defense industrial base and pursues a large munition and drone budget. It's unclear whether such manufacturing shifts would take place or when.
The Department of War has signed a seven-year agreement with Lockheed Martin to significantly increase PAC-3 MSE missile production from 600 to 2,000 annually, aiming to stabilize demand, boost industrial capacity, and enhance national security through a new acquisition model that encourages long-term investment and supply chain efficiency.
The article emphasizes the importance of shared production, interoperability, and co-manufacturing of munitions among U.S. and allied forces to strengthen deterrence against China and Russia, highlighting existing weapon systems like the SM-6 and Tomahawk, and advocating for expanded allied industrial capacity and distributed manufacturing to ensure credible and resilient defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
The UK is shifting to a war footing by investing £1.5 billion to establish 'always-on' munitions factories and bolster its defense industry amid ongoing tensions with Russia and support for Ukraine, aiming to enhance military readiness and stockpile weapons, while facing challenges in meeting defense spending targets and modernizing its armed forces.