Pentagon seeks automakers' help to replenish declining ammunition stockpiles, WSJ reports
Pentagon officials have held talks with major automakers, including Ford and GM, to replenish declining ammunition stockpiles, The Wall Street Journal reported. The war in Iran and support for Ukraine have depleted US ammunition reserves, prompting the Pentagon to consider bringing automotive companies into military production.
Pentagon officials have held talks with major automakers and other manufacturers in an effort to replenish declining ammunition stockpiles, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. Citing sources, the Journal reported that President Donald Trump's administration wants automakers in particular to play a greater role in military production.
Auto industry engagement
In this context, Pentagon officials met with senior auto industry executives, including Ford Motor CEO Jim Farley and General Motors (GM) Chair and CEO Mary Barra. According to the sources, the war in Iran and support for Ukraine have brought down US ammunition stockpiles, and the Pentagon is therefore considering bringing automotive companies into the process.
Stockpile concerns
The US has expended significant munitions during the Iran war, which began Feb. 28, and has also provided substantial military aid to Ukraine since Russia's invasion. Earlier reports indicated US interceptor stocks could hit critical lows within days given the intensity of Iranian attacks.
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Industrial base expansion
The effort to involve automakers reflects a broader push to expand the US defense industrial base, leveraging automotive manufacturing capacity for munitions production. The talks follow similar initiatives during the Ukraine war to ramp up artillery shell production.
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