How the Pentagon Plans to Fix Its Pricey Missile Problem

The Wall Street Journal  |  Drew FitzGerald

The U.S. military is depleting its expensive missile stockpiles faster than it can replace them, prompting the Pentagon to implement a new strategy focused on acquiring cheaper, more rapidly produced alternatives. This initiative involves utilizing nonstandard contracts and tasking defense contractors to design new weapons from scratch, aiming to cut years off production time and reduce costs by hundreds of millions of dollars.

The urgency of this shift is underscored by the ongoing Iran war, where the U.S. has fired over 1,000 Tomahawk missiles, significantly impacting existing armament supplies. Even before the conflict, U.S. lawmakers and military brass expressed concerns that the nation's rearmament capabilities were insufficient to deter emerging threats and respond effectively to global conflicts, highlighting a critical vulnerability in defense readiness. This strategic pivot seeks to enhance the industrial base's responsiveness and ensure sustained combat power.

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