Vance pushes back on report of stockpile concerns as US races to boost missile production
The U.S. military is racing to boost missile production after years of output that lagged behind current demand left key weapons in short supply, according to an analysis of Pentagon...
By Fox News · Fox News
The U.S. military is racing to boost missile production after years of output that lagged behind current demand left key weapons in short supply, according to an analysis of Pentagon procurement data. At current production rates, some of the Pentagon’s most critical munitions would take years — and in some cases decades — to replenish, exposing a gap between battlefield use and industrial capacity that cannot be quickly closed. Major defense contractors have struck new agreements with the Pentagon and pledged to significantly increase production across several high-end munitions programs. But senior military officials warn the buildup will take time. "I think it will take one to two years for them to scale. It won't be soon enough," Indo-Pacific Command Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo told lawmakers in April. TRUMP-BACKED MILITARY RIGHT TO REPAIR PLAN STRIPPED FROM CONGRESS' FINAL DEFENSE BILL The push comes as recent combat has drawn down U.S. stockpiles of high-end munitions, exposing a growing gap between how quickly the military can use advanced weapons and the years it takes to replace them, raising concerns about longer-term readiness. The gap between usage and replenishment is also reportedly drawing scrutiny inside the administration. The Atlantic reported that, in closed-door discussions, Vice President JD Vance questioned whether the Pentagon is fully accounting for how much those stockpiles were depleted during the Iran conflict, raising concerns about the availability of key munitions even as defense officials publicly insist U.S. stockpiles remain sufficient. Vance disputed that characterization Wednesday in an interview on Fox News' "The Will Cain Show," rejecting the report’s sourcing while acknowledging concerns about military readiness. "Of course, I’m concerned about our readiness because that’s my job to be concerned," Vance said, adding that defense leaders are "doing an amazing job." He also dismissed the report, saying, "Don’t believe everything…