The Pentagon has given major defense contractors 21 days to submit plans showing that they can produce and deliver critical weapons systems at a much higher pace, as recent combat operations around the globe have severely dwindled some stockpiles.
Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg issued the directive in an Aug. 5 memo to industry leaders. The memo calls for companies to propose an uptick in production for such weapons systems deemed critical.
“Years-long development cycles are not acceptable,” Feinberg wrote. “We must dramatically accelerate our program schedules and expand our production capacity now.”
The memo was directed toward major defense contractors such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The companies are also being asked to identify systems that can be manufactured more quickly, which investments need support, and how the Pentagon can assist them in this process.
Industry Investment a Must
The memo asks the contractors to propose specific capital investments and facility expansions that would increase the capacity for improved production. Companies need to also explain how they would work with the Pentagon to deliver these systems at the rapid pace that is required.
Feinberg said that the companies should show a willingness to contribute to the cause, as this would signal to the department that companies are willing to use their own resources for the mission to be successful. The Pentagon is going to use the responses from the contractors to determine which defense and weapons systems can be delivered more easily in order to plan for the proper utilization of resources.
The request comes as the United States has been involved in conflict all around the globe, and although official numbers are not known to the public, one can only guess that recent worldwide operations have left the stockpile dwindling.
Recent numbers from the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that the U.S. inventory of Patriot interceptors fell from 2,330 in recent years to between 759 and 827. The Department of War has not confirmed these numbers, so a grain of salt is to be taken with the estimates.
Replacement Timelines May be Hard to Judge
Timelines vary on how many of a certain weapon system were used. Defense officials need to not only count how many systems require replacement, but they also need to estimate how fast this process can be done. Certain systems take a longer time than others to be built, as delivery timelines can vary widely.
The timelines in question demonstrate the difficulty of replacing sophisticated weapons depending on highly specialized parts and equipment, in-depth performance production facilities, and other highly nuanced technical procedures. The Pentagon has already taken the necessary steps to expand production of such systems, as well as the components needed to build them.
RTX, a defense contractor, just announced it has received a contract for Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical Patriot interceptors. This would make it their first U.S. domestic production contract in more than 30 years.
The contract is worth around $442 million and is intended to restart production of the systems at a time when air defense is critical in today’s evolving battlefield.
On July 27, the Defense Department announced a seven-year framework agreement with contractors meant to expand propulsion components used in PAC-3 MSE and THAAD interceptors.
Want for Faster Production Across the Board
The Pentagon’s ask is not just limited to weapons used recently in operations. Feinberg identified 16 weapons systems that could receive such treatment from contractors, such as the Air Defense Systems mentioned earlier. The list includes mobile air defense radar systems and space-based missile tracking, as well as interceptors not used widely at this point in time.
Feinberg’s directive gives companies now just under three weeks to identify where they can make the best choices to deliver what the Pentagon is asking for. The plans that the contractors draw up will show how they plan to make the required production changes, and how the Defense Department can help.
The plans that come out of this question may have an influence on how the Pentagon makes its spending choices, as they work to replenish depleted inventories and maintain a healthy stockpile of such weapons systems to meet the needs of future potential conflicts.
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