Trump says defense contractors agree to quadruple production of 'exquisite class' weapons

[BumRushDaShow]

9. They linked to another, more comprehensive article from earlier in the week where they had this (different reporter) -

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5765875-us-munitions-stockpile-iran-trump/

(snip)

But the U.S. has still not resupplied high-end interceptors such as THAAD missiles — critical in defending U.S. military personnel against Iranian ballistic missiles — after the military blew through 25 percent of its stockpile over just a few days of operations against Iran in June 2025.

THAAD interceptors and Patriot missile systems have also been used extensively in operations in the Middle East, and Patriot missiles continue to be requested by Ukraine in its war with Russia. Because of the weapons’ complex and high-tech makeup, as well as production constraints, each replacement missile can take upwards of two years or more to make. Due to this, the U.S. currently can produce only several hundred THAAD and Patriot missiles each year.

(snip)

Other standard missiles that have been rapidly consumed are the Navy’s ship-launched SM-2, SM-3 and SM-6 munitions. The missiles have been used to protect vessels in the Red Sea against the Houthis, an Iranian-proxy group in Yemen, as well as to defend Israel from Iranian ballistic missiles.

The shortages have been so acutely felt that the Pentagon last year requested nearly $30 billion from Congress to backfill its high-end missiles and interceptors, but that request was only partially fulfilled in the Defense Department’s budget passed last month, The Washington Post reported.

(snip)