WASHINGTON – U.S. Defense manufacturers have agreed to quadruple production of what President Donald Trump has termed “Exquisite Class Weaponry,” following a meeting at the White House, according to statements released Friday and Wednesday.
The agreement, reached with the chief operating officers of BAE Systems, Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace, L3Harris Missile Solutions, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon, aims to rapidly increase the quantity of these weapons, the President stated in a Truth Social post. Expansion of production facilities began three months prior to the meeting, with plants already operating.
Trump’s announcement comes as the administration plans a dramatic 33 percent, or $500 billion, increase in the fiscal 2027 defense budget, bringing total spending to $1.5 trillion, according to reports. This increase mirrors a similar move by Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as President Vladimir Putin placed the Russian economy on a wartime footing.
While Trump initially described the military actions against Iran as a “military operation,” he has avoided explicitly labeling it a war, potentially due to a lack of congressional authorization. His objectives in the conflict have shifted, ranging from preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons to seeking regime change.
The “Exquisite Class” weapons targeted for increased production include the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, the Patriot missile system’s PAC-3 MSE interceptors, and Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles, according to Tom Karako, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Missile Defense Project. Karako outlined the production goals during a CSIS event last Thursday, stating the administration aims to increase THAAD production from 96 to 400 annually, PAC-3 MSE production from 650 to over 2,000, and Tomahawk production from 57 to over 1,000 per year.
Lockheed Martin has entered into a long-term agreement with the Pentagon to guarantee purchases of PAC-3 MSE interceptors, enabling investment in expanded production capacity, including facility upgrades and workforce expansion. The company anticipates reaching the goal of 2,000 interceptors annually by 2030. Michael P. Duffey, Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment, informed the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday of the agreement to quadruple THAAD interceptor production, with Lockheed Martin planning a multi-billion-dollar investment over the next three years.
Raytheon, a division of RTX, has agreed to increase Tomahawk cruise missile production capacity to 1,000 within the next few years. The production of Tomahawks is complex and can take up to two years per missile due to specialized components.
The military possessed over 4,000 Tomahawks before the attacks on Iran began, with approximately 400 reportedly used against Iranian targets within the first three days of the conflict. Elaine McCusker, former Deputy Under Secretary Defense (Comptroller), estimated the cost of the first four days of the conflict at $11 billion, including $5.7 billion for interceptors and $3.4 billion for bombs and missiles.
The White House is reportedly considering a supplemental funding bill of up to $50 billion to cover the costs of the Iran conflict. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated Wednesday that he had not yet received details on the funding level but would consider a supplemental bill when appropriate.
Trump has continued to adjust his objectives in the conflict, initially stating the goal was to “eliminate the imminent nuclear threat” and secure “freedom” for the Iranian people. He now demands “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” and the installation of a “GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader” in Iran.
