US moves to wartime missile production as Middle East conflict strains stockpiles

The United States Department of Defense has announced new agreements with major defence contractors to ramp up missile production and place it on a “wartime footing,” amid growing concerns over munitions stockpiles linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The move follows extensive use of interceptor missiles by the United States, Israel, and Gulf states in countering retaliatory strikes attributed to Iran, raising fears over the sustainability of existing reserves.

Under one of the agreements, Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems will increase production of “seeker heads” — a critical component of the THAAD missile defence system — by up to four times current output levels.

The Pentagon said the initiative is aimed at strengthening the defence industrial base to meet wartime demands. Lockheed Martin had earlier indicated plans to boost THAAD production from about 100 units annually to roughly 400 within the next few years.

In a separate agreement, Lockheed Martin will also accelerate production of Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), a new generation of tactical ballistic missiles that have reportedly been deployed in recent operations involving Iran. The PrSM is designed to replace the older Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).

Additionally, Honeywell Aerospace has committed to expanding production of critical components, including navigation systems, actuators, and electronic warfare technologies used in advanced missile systems such as the AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missile.

Honeywell said it would invest $500 million over multiple years to upgrade its manufacturing capacity and support increased demand for defence technologies.

The agreements signal a broader shift by the United States to reinforce its military readiness and supply chains as geopolitical tensions continue to drive rapid consumption of defence resources.