BY TYLER DURDEN
THURSDAY, JUN 25, 2026 – 10:00 PM
President Trump’s war economy continues to gain steam as weapons production is kicked into high gear and stockpiling becomes a top priority for the Department of War.
The latest evidence: Lockheed Martin has won a DoW contract worth up to $35 billion to quadruple production of THAAD missile-defense interceptors, according to Bloomberg.
The seven-year agreement follows a January framework deal between Lockheed and DoW to boost interceptor output over the next few years. It also comes as the White House moves to mobilize the defense industrial base, with Trump invoking the Defense Production Act to reduce manufacturing bottlenecks.
On Wednesday afternoon, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters after a meeting with Trump that the goal of increasing munitions production “is important because we have to replenish our stockpiles and make sure we are totally ready for whatever might emerge."
The urgency behind the upcoming replenishment cycle comes after four years of war in Ukraine and the recent U.S.-Iran war drained key weapons stockpiles.
Trump also met with defense-industry executives on Wednesday as the administration seeks to accelerate production of other key air-defense weapons.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers in mid-May that because of Trump’s "smart business deals” have sent an unmistakable demand signal to defense-industrial partners: build more, build faster, and prepare for sustained procurement.
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