Talk of a missile crisis in the US — Trump made a statement
US President Donald Trump stated that the American defense industry is working around the clock and ramping up missile production, including Patriot, THAAD, and Tomahawk. The statement comes amid reports of ammunition shortages due to intensive use in conflicts in the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump made a statement amid reports of shortages of certain munitions in the American military. In a post on his Truth Social network, he said that US defense enterprises are working around the clock, seven days a week, and are increasing the production of modern weapons systems. Among the main production areas, Trump named Patriot and THAAD systems, Tomahawk missiles, and the Standard Missile family. The statement came amid a CBS investigation, according to which the US defense industry is facing a problem with production speed. Special attention is given to Patriot interceptor missiles: Lockheed Martin produces about 750 such missiles per year at a cost of roughly $4 million per unit. During the war with Iran, the US used about 1,500 Patriots. The company plans to increase annual output to 2,000 units by expanding shifts and automation. Assembly of one missile takes about six weeks, but manufacturing individual parts can take significantly longer. The production chain involves hundreds of suppliers, and a delay in one part can slow down the entire process. There have also been problems with engines for the Patriot — their manufacturer is building a new automated plant, which is expected to launch in 16 months.