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Pentagon rushes to boost munitions as Iran war drains stocks
The Pentagon has asked US defence firms to submit plans within 21 days to accelerate production of critical weapons, as stocks of Patriot and THAAD interceptors plunge during the Iran conflict. A…
The Story in Brief
The Pentagon has asked US defence firms to submit plans within 21 days to accelerate production of critical weapons, as stocks of Patriot and THAAD interceptors plunge during the Iran conflict. A CSIS study found Patriot interceptor numbers fell from 2,330 before the war to between 759 and 827 now, a drop of at least 65%. THAAD interceptors fell by over 38%.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the move is part of a modernisation effort that predates the war, but Deputy Defence Secretary Steve Feinberg warned that “years-long development cycles are not acceptable.” President Trump has denied any shortage. Congress has stalled a defence spending bill while opposing the war.
The Indian Opinion
The White House calls the depleted stockpiles a normal modernisation effort, but numbers tell a different story. Patriot interceptors have fallen by over 65%, and THAAD interceptors by at least 38%. The Pentagon now asks industry to triple production by 2030. The real test will be whether Congress, which has stalled a defence spending bill, approves the White House’s requested Rs 1.2 lakh crore increase next year.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
