The defense contractor Lockheed Martin said the partnership with General Motors will see the automaker produce key parts for the Patriot surface‑to‑air missile, a move that expands the pool of U.S. manufacturers involved in the program.
According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon is actively courting additional industrial partners to accelerate procurement and replenish munitions that have been heavily drawn down during more than six months of conflict with Iran.
A government watchdog this week warned that the United States has used up as much as two‑thirds of its Patriot missile interceptors, while Reuters reported that “virtually all” long‑range missiles in the stockpile have been expended.
Defense analysts warned last month that the shortfall leaves the United States ill‑prepared to deter a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan, urging a “two‑year sprint” to rebuild missile stockpiles and restore deterrence capability.
If GM’s entry into the supply chain proceeds as planned, the additional production capacity could speed the replacement of depleted interceptors and support the Pentagon’s broader effort to shore up U.S. air‑defense readiness.