The Pentagon is pressing major U.S. defense contractors to accelerate weapons production, issuing strict deadlines to replenish critical military stockpiles depleted during the conflict with Iran, according to newly disclosed Defense Department directives. “Years-long development cycles are not acceptable,” Feinberg wrote in the memo, demanding faster program schedules and an expansion of production capacity. Concerns Over Depleted Missile DefensesThe initiative underscores mounting concern within military planning circles that months of combat against Iran have significantly reduced inventories of key missile defense systems, such as Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors. American forces may launch fewer missiles against incoming Iranian drones and missiles, raising the chance of one getting through. Restocking heavily depleted items—such as Patriot, THAAD, and Tomahawk cruise missiles—could take at least three years, even with elevated funding.