American weapons stockpiles are facing gaps in missile inventory due to a lack of industrial investment over several years. To address these shortages, munitions plants are now expanding their production capacity and accelerating the assembly of missile systems to restore depleted reserves.

Inconsistent contracting and a lack of funding for core facilities have hindered these replenishment efforts. The Wall Street Journal reports that this surge in production is coming too late to resolve shortages in the nation's arsenal in time to meet immediate defense needs.