Pentagon's Ultimatum to Industry: 21 Days for a Plan
Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg told industry that multi-year development cycles are no longer acceptable, after interceptor stockpiles were severely depleted in the conflict with Iran.
Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg told industry that multi-year development cycles are no longer acceptable, after interceptor stockpiles were severely depleted in the conflict with Iran.
U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg signed a memorandum on August 5, 2026, giving the defense industry just 21 days to submit concrete plans to boost production of key weapons, and the document is already on the desks of Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and RTX executives.
"Multi-year development cycles are not acceptable. We must now dramatically accelerate our program schedules and expand production capacity," Feinberg said in the memorandum, parts of which were reported by Klix.ba.
This sudden pressure is a direct consequence of the heavy expenditure of advanced munitions in the conflict with Iran. An analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reveals a drastic decline in stockpiles: U.S. Patriot interceptor inventories have fallen from a pre-war level of 2,330 to between 759 and 827 after the latest round of operations.
The situation with THAAD interceptors is even more critical, with stockpiles dropping from 452 to between 234 and 278. However, the Pentagon is not just concerned about the number of missiles expended, but also the time required to replenish them: CSIS estimates that delivering a single Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptor takes about 42 months, while THAAD takes as long as 53 months.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell clarified that industry responses to this request will help shape the department's budget request for fiscal year 2028. Companies are being asked to propose specific capital investments, plans for expanding facilities, and ways to collaborate with the Pentagon to significantly accelerate weapons production.
Feinberg's memorandum covers a total of 16 critical programs being considered for accelerated production or increased procurement, including the Next-Generation Interceptor, NASAMS, mobile air defense radar, and a space-based missile tracking system.
The request comes just days after the Pentagon announced on July 27 the signing of seven-year framework agreements with industry, aimed precisely at expanding production of key propulsion components for the PAC-3 MSE and THAAD systems, whose stockpiles are now at critically low levels.
Although there is no direct connection to Croatia, such developments indirectly affect all NATO member states, as the U.S. defense industry continues to play a crucial role in equipping and maintaining collective defense capabilities.
