US seeks to raise missile output over China threat

WASHINGTON: The US Pentagon is urging defence contractors to double or quadruple production rates focussing on 12 critical weapons due to concerns over low US stockpiles in a potential conflict with China, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter, according to Reuters.

- Agencies

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The Pentagon did not respond to a Reuters’ request for comment.

Pentagon officials have held a series of high-level meetings with senior representatives from several US missile makers and asked them to increase production on “a breakneck schedule”, according to people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported. The effort has been named the Munitions Acceleration Council, headed by deputy defence secretary Steve Feinberg, and company executives have been asked to provide weekly updates on the progress, the newspaper said.