Pentagon Urges Congress to Approve $1.5 Trillion Budget to Replenish Depleted Stockpiles in Iran War
Seven-year production contracts to boost manufacturing of air defense missiles and long-range ammunition
A senior official at the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) urged Congress to approve President Donald Trump administration’s $1.5 trillion defense spending request, emphasizing that funding is essential to replenish stocks of air defense missiles and long-range strike weapons heavily used during the war with Iran.
On Friday, Bloomberg reported that Michael Dafi, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainability, stated that lawmakers must “move forward and provide” the funding requested by the administration if the United States wishes to refill its depleted stocks of key weapons systems.
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Dafi, in an interview with Bloomberg Television’s “Balance of Power” program, said the Pentagon has already established the required contracts and reformed its acquisition system, adding that the ministry now needs funding to supply weapons to US forces.
The Trump administration’s defense resource request for fiscal year 2027 stands at approximately $1.5 trillion, up from a total of $1 trillion in 2026, according to official White House budget documents. This figure represents the total defense resources requested, not an amount fully earmarked to replace weapons and ammunition used in the war with Iran.
Dafi’s comments come amid growing pressure on US weapon stocks, particularly air defense missiles and long-range ammunition, due to their intensive use in military operations against Iran and in intercepting missiles and drones targeting US forces and bases in the region.
The Pentagon has already moved to increase production capacity for interceptor missiles, signing seven-year framework agreements with Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics to boost production of components for THAAD missiles and Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptors.
Under these agreements, the Pentagon aims to triple production capacity for Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptors and quadruple production capacity for THAAD interceptors, although funding for these plans remains subject to annual appropriations approved by Congress.
The US Department of Defense has also requested major defense industry companies to accelerate the production and delivery of key weapon systems, including air defense sensors, interceptor missiles, and missile tracking systems, amid growing concerns over shortages in certain military stocks and worsening pressures driven by the war with Iran.
