Reuters — Washington, Updated 09:04 AM Mar 04, 2026 IST
The Trump administration plans to host executives from the largest US defence contractors at the White House on Friday to discuss accelerating weapons production after recent strikes on Iran and other operations depleted stockpiles, five people familiar with the plans told Reuters.
Invited firms include Lockheed Martin and Raytheon parent RTX, along with other key suppliers, the sources said on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private. At least one source said the meeting will focus on pressing weapons makers to speed up output.
The urgency reflects heavy draws on US munitions since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s campaign in Gaza, which together have reduced US inventories of artillery, ammunition and anti-tank missiles. The Iran operation used longer-range missiles not typically supplied to Kyiv, further straining stocks.
Deputy Defence Secretary Steve Feinberg has led recent Pentagon work on a supplemental budget request of roughly $50 billion to replenish weapons used in recent conflicts; the request could be released as soon as Friday, one source said. The figure is preliminary and could change.
The US strikes on Iran deployed Tomahawk cruise missiles, F-35 fighters and low-cost one-way attack drones. Tomahawk maker Raytheon has a Pentagon agreement to ultimately ramp production to 1,000 missiles a year; the Pentagon plans to buy 57 Tomahawks in 2026 at an average cost of about $1.3 million each.
The administration has been increasing pressure on contractors to prioritize production over shareholder payouts. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January directing identification of contractors deemed to be underperforming on contracts while distributing profits to shareholders. The Pentagon is expected to publish a list of underperforming firms; those named will have 15 days to submit board-approved corrective plans. If plans are judged insufficient, the Pentagon could pursue enforcement actions, including contract terminations.
Lockheed, the Pentagon and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. RTX declined to comment.
