Pentagon announces deals to escalate missile-interceptor parts production
CBS News and other outlets reported this week that the United States had used almost all of its stockpile of long-range precision missiles in the attacks on Iran. The reports included most of the Army Tactical Missile Systems and Precision Strike Missiles. Officials said the most pressing shortage involved Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptors, which the United States had used faster than manufacturers could replace them, according to the reports.
Trump wrote in a social media post that the United States has “massive amounts of ‘munitions,’ especially of certain types.” He said large amounts were being manufactured and shipped to the country as needed and that defense companies were building the largest number of plants and factories in the country’s history.
Trump described people who leaked what he called “treasonous statements” as being pursued and said, “Long-term jail sentences will be sought!”
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell defended the military’s capabilities in a statement to CBS News. “America’s military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the president’s choosing,” Parnell said. “We have executed multiple successful operations across combatant commands while ensuring the U.S. military possesses a deep arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and our interests,” he said.
The Pentagon announced deals Monday with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to increase production of parts for missile interceptors, The Hill reported.
Separately, The Washington Post reported that Trump had “demanded answers” from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about extreme munitions shortages the previous week, according to the report. Trump reportedly said he had been misled about the shortages. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called that report “a B.S. story” and “FAKE NEWS,” saying it “literally never happened.”
The White House has previously vowed to find and prosecute people who leak information to the press. In July, the Trump administration issued subpoenas to New York Times journalists, requiring them to testify before a federal grand jury “in regard to an alleged violation of federal criminal law.” The subpoenas concerned a Times report based on anonymous sources about security concerns involving Trump’s new Air Force One, which was donated by Qatar. The probe was later dismissed.