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The US Department of Defense is pushing American industrial companies, including major automakers, to take a larger role in weapons production, in a move that recalls the wartime industrial mobilization of World War II, The Wall Street Journal reports.
According to the publication, Pentagon officials held meetings with executives from several major corporations, including Mary Barra of General Motors and Jim Farley of Ford Motor, to discuss potential participation in defense manufacturing.
The discussions focused on whether civilian industrial capacity could be redirected to expand the production of ammunition, missiles, and military equipment, as US and NATO stockpiles come under strain due to continued support for Ukraine and heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Officials reportedly emphasized that boosting weapons output is now considered a national security priority. Companies were asked whether they could rapidly shift part of their production lines to defense needs and what obstacles—such as contracting rules or procurement processes—might prevent faster scaling.
Other companies involved in the talks included GE Aerospace and defense-adjacent manufacturer Oshkosh.
A Pentagon spokesperson said the department is actively expanding the defense industrial base by leveraging commercial technologies and capabilities to maintain a military edge.
The report notes that similar industrial conversions last occurred on a massive scale during World War II, when Detroit automakers stopped civilian car production and shifted to building aircraft, engines, and military trucks under the so-called “Arsenal of Democracy” program.
Today, however, US defense manufacturing is highly concentrated among a small number of contractors, and most civilian firms involved in defense contracts operate on a relatively limited scale.
The renewed push comes as concerns grow in Washington about depleted ammunition stockpiles following large-scale arms transfers abroad, prompting new multibillion-dollar procurement efforts, including a $4.76 billion contract with Lockheed Martin to replenish missile interceptor inventories.
