Pentagon pushes to double missile production for potential China conflict - WSJ

Pentagon pushes to double missile production for potential China conflict - WSJ

The Pentagon is urgently accelerating the production of critical missiles to prepare for a potential conflict with China, as reported by The Wall Street Journal . The initiative, dubbed the Munitions Acceleration Council, aims to double or even quadruple production rates on a tight schedule, with Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg taking a hands-on approach to coordinate with senior executives from major missile manufacturers.

The Pentagon's push comes amid concerns over the U.S.'s low weapons stockpiles and the need to bolster its military capabilities. In a June roundtable, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with executives from several weapons makers, including Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, to discuss the plan. The meeting also included new market entrants like Anduril Industries and suppliers of essential parts such as rocket propellant and batteries.

Deputy Defense Secretary Feinberg is personally involved in the effort, holding weekly calls with company executives. The Pentagon has set ambitious targets, with the Army awarding Lockheed Martin nearly $10 billion to produce nearly 2,000 PAC-3 missiles by 2026. However, some industry experts caution that meeting these targets could require tens of billions of dollars more than the current funding, and that companies need clear expressions of support and funding commitments from the Pentagon.

The acceleration council is focused on 12 critical weapons, including Patriot interceptors, Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles, and Precision Strike Missiles. The Pentagon has also begun mapping supply chains and identifying potential bottlenecks to ensure smooth production. Boeing, for instance, has expanded its factory to increase production of a key component for Patriot missiles.

While the Pentagon is making significant strides, there are concerns about the realism of these targets and the potential challenges in ramping up production. It can take years to fully assemble and test new missiles, and the military faces the need to attract new private capital and potentially license technology to third-party manufacturers.

The Pentagon's efforts are part of a broader strategy to counter China's growing military capabilities and ensure the U.S. has sufficient weapons on hand for potential conflicts. However, the success of these initiatives remains uncertain, and the financial implications for the defense industry are significant.