Ammon News - The Trump administration plans ​to meet with executives from the biggest U.S. defense contractors at the White House on Friday to discuss ‌accelerating weapons production, as the Pentagon works to replenish supplies after strikes on Iran and several other recent military efforts, five people familiar with the plan told Reuters.

The meeting underscores ​the urgency felt in Washington to shore up weapons stocks after the Iran operation ⁠drew heavily on munitions.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and Israel began military operations in Gaza, the ​U.S. has drawn down billions of dollars' worth of weapons stockpiles, including artillery systems, ammunition and anti-tank missiles. The conflict in ​Iran has consumed longer-range missiles than those furnished to Kyiv.

The White House meeting comes as Deputy ‌Defense ⁠Secretary Steve Feinberg has been leading Pentagon work in recent days on a supplemental budget request of around $50 billion that could be released as soon as Friday, one of the people said. The new money would pay for replacing the weapons used in recent conflicts including those in the Middle East. The figure is preliminary and could change.

The push ​to boost production has intensified ​following U.S. military strikes ⁠on Iran, where the U.S. deployed Tomahawk cruise missiles, F-35 stealth fighters and low-cost one-way attack drones on Saturday.

Reuters