The U.S. military is facing a shortage of critical munitions after months of war with Iran. Years of slow production and insufficient procurement have weakened America’s ability to project power and sustain its commitments abroad. The Trump administration has rightly increased pressure on defense contractors to accelerate production and on Congress to fund larger inventories. Its military objectives and economic agenda are now converging. The combination of war with Iran and targeted tariffs could usher in a new era of American defense readiness, one that brings critical production home while dramatically expanding manufacturing capacity.
The Iran war exposed a fundamental weakness: America’s defense industrial base cannot quickly replenish what it fires. Rebuilding key missile reserves will take years. In August, Deputy War Secretary Steve Feinberg gave contractors 21 days to submit plans to accelerate production. On Aug. 31, the Pentagon announced seven-year framework agreements intended to triple PAC-3 MSE production capacity and quadruple THAAD production capacity. That urgency now extends to the specialized components and upstream suppliers required to produce those weapons.
The administration’s response has been to treat industrial policy and national security as a single problem. Alongside its broader tariffs, Washington is deploying measures targeting specific supply-chain vulnerabilities. In August, the White House announced tariffs on drones and components and minimum import prices for polysilicon, used in semiconductors and solar products. Initial drone duties took effect Sept. 3; the polysilicon measures begin in December. The strategic rationale is clear: reduce dependence on foreign suppliers whose cooperation cannot be guaranteed. Skydio experienced that vulnerability when Chinese sanctions disrupted its battery supply in 2024.
America’s military readiness relies on complex supply chains. Missiles require specialized parts from manufacturers that, in turn, depend on networks of lower-tier suppliers. A bottleneck several layers below the prime contractor can delay an entire weapons program. Targeted trade protections can make domestic production commercially viable, particularly when paired with predictable, long-term procurement. The objective should be dependable supply and greater output, with access to essential inputs preserved while American capacity expands.
This is where the administration’s economic and military aims reinforce each other. A factory capable of reliably manufacturing critical components strengthens both American industry and military readiness. Reshoring alone is not enough if the resulting production remains slow or inflexible. The opportunity is to bring manufacturing home while changing how it operates, allowing American workers and companies to compete through speed, precision, and scale.
Ukraine’s request for 300 Patriot missiles ahead of winter illustrates the competing demands on an already strained production base. The Trump administration can turn this military crisis into an economic opening by encouraging factory investment and opening defense production to innovative manufacturers. Companies such as Hadrian combine software, artificial intelligence, and robotics to modernize precision manufacturing. Their value lies in helping produce existing weapons at greater scale.
Major defense companies like Lockheed Martin have also tapped newer manufacturers to increase production. In December 2025, Hadrian signed a memorandum of understanding with Lockheed Martin to introduce automated machining and inspection for programs including the PAC-3 MSE interceptor, the THAAD missile-defense system, and the Precision Strike Missile. Those partnerships predate the Iran war but address precisely the bottlenecks it exposed. A notable feature of Hadrian’s approach is its focus on “lights-out” production, using automation and software to keep complex aerospace manufacturing running with minimal human intervention. Investor enthusiasm is substantial: Hadrian announced a $1.37 billion financing round in August, valuing the company at $7.87 billion.
TRUMP IS TREATING A HEMISPHERIC WAR LIKE STREET CRIME — ISRAEL KNOWS BETTER
But agreements alone will not close the gap. The war with Iran has made obvious what years of contracting delays obscured: The United States needs production at scale, not just partnerships on paper. By combining newer manufacturing methods, long-term purchasing commitments, and targeted trade policy, Washington can bring more defense production home while accelerating output. Congress must sustain that effort because funding for the August agreements remains subject to annual appropriations. Manufacturers need confidence that orders will continue before committing to additional equipment, facilities, and workers.
America can emerge from this conflict with greater manufacturing capacity and stronger defense supply chains, but only if today’s urgency produces lasting policy. The administration’s most promising strategy connects national security priorities with private investment, entrepreneurial competition, and technological innovation. The success of that agenda should be measured in practical terms: more qualified suppliers, shorter production timelines, and more weapons delivered on schedule. Properly targeted tariffs, combined with wartime urgency and sustained procurement, could bring faster, more resilient defense manufacturing back to the U.S.
Adelle Nazarian is a journalist, entrepreneur, and commentator covering politics, culture, technology, and the ideas shaping America.