The Trump administration is set to meet with top executives from major US defense companies at the White House this Friday to discuss speeding up weapons production. The move comes as the Pentagon works to replenish its stockpiles following recent strikes on Iran and other military operations, according to officials familiar with the plan.
Leading defense companies, including Lockheed Martin and Raytheon’s parent company RTX, have been invited to the private meeting. The discussions will focus on how to increase production to replace weapons used in recent conflicts, officials said.
The urgency stems from significant munitions consumption over the past few years. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and Israel’s military operations in Gaza, the US has used billions of dollars’ worth of weapons, including artillery, ammunition, and anti-tank missiles. The conflict in Iran has put additional strain on long-range missile stocks.
Officials said the meeting would pressure weapons manufacturers to accelerate output. While Lockheed, the Pentagon, and the White House did not immediately comment, RTX declined to respond. President Donald Trump previously reassured the public on social media, saying the US has a “virtually unlimited supply” of munitions and could fight wars “forever” using these weapons.
The White House gathering coincides with Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg’s efforts on a supplemental Pentagon budget request of roughly $50 billion, which could be released as soon as Friday. The funds are intended to replace weapons used in recent conflicts, particularly in the Middle East.
Recent US strikes on Iran included Tomahawk cruise missiles, F-35 stealth fighters, and low-cost attack drones. Raytheon, which manufactures Tomahawk missiles, has an agreement to eventually produce 1,000 units annually. For 2026, the Pentagon plans to purchase 57 missiles at an average cost of $1.3 million each.
The administration has also been pressuring defense contractors to prioritize production over shareholder profits. In January, President Trump signed an executive order targeting companies underperforming on contracts while distributing earnings to shareholders. The Pentagon is expected to publish a list of underperforming contractors, who will then have 15 days to submit corrective plans. If deemed insufficient, the Pentagon could take enforcement actions, including canceling contracts.
