The Pentagon has requested the US defense industry to speed up production of weapons, aiming to replenish its depleted stockpile of munitions, including those used in the ongoing conflict with Iran. In a statement on Saturday, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell emphasized the need for faster munitions acquisitions to meet the increasing threat demand. The call comes as the US military's advanced missile interceptors have been significantly depleted due to recent fighting with Iran, potentially leaving US forces less secure. To expedite the process, Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg wrote to industry leaders on Wednesday, asking for plans to accelerate delivery schedules and increase production of critical capabilities within 21 days. The memo underlines the urgency of years-long development cycles being unacceptable and the need for immediate action to expand production capacity. This rapid escalation in weapons production will inform the fiscal year 2028 budget submitted to Congress for funding, according to Parnell. However, a defense spending bill is currently stalled in the US Congress due to political disagreements over military actions against Iran and the proposed substantial increase in Pentagon spending. Experts estimate that even with increased funding, it will likely take at least three years to restore Patriot and THAAD interceptors to pre-war levels. The current stockpile of these interceptors is estimated to be at least 65 percent smaller than before the conflict began. To address this issue, the US Department of Defense recently signed a new deal with defense giants Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to ramp up production capacity for parts used in missile defense systems.