Reuters — Washington
The Trump administration plans to convene executives from the largest US defence contractors at the White House on Friday to press for faster weapons production after recent strikes on Iran and other operations reduced stockpiles, five people familiar with the plans told Reuters.
Invited firms include Lockheed Martin and RTX, the parent company of Raytheon, 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 center on urging weapons makers to accelerate output.
U.S. munitions have been heavily drawn down since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s campaign in Gaza, leaving smaller inventories of artillery, ammunition and anti-tank missiles. The recent operation against Iran used longer-range missiles not typically supplied to Kyiv, applying additional strain to stocks.
Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg has been leading Pentagon work on a supplemental budget request of roughly $50 billion to replenish weapons used in recent conflicts, and one source said the request could be released as soon as Friday. The figure is preliminary and could change.
The U.S. 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 stepping up pressure on contractors to prioritize production over shareholder payouts. In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing agencies to identify contractors deemed to be underperforming on contracts while distributing profits to shareholders. The Pentagon is expected to publish a list of such firms; those named would 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.
