US automakers ‘asked by Pentagon to help make weapons for Iran war’

WorldPolitics
16 Apr 2026 • 5:00 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

US automakers ‘asked by Pentagon to help make weapons for Iran war’

  • The Trump administration is reportedly reaching out to U.S. automakers, including General Motors and Ford, to discuss using their factories for military gear production.
  • This initiative is prompted by the ongoing conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, which are rapidly depleting American defense supplies, such as Tomahawk missiles.
  • Defense officials have engaged with executives from companies like GE Aerospace and Oshkosh, with Oshkosh confirming discussions with the Pentagon since November.
  • The effort aims to place U.S. military manufacturing on a 'wartime footing,' drawing parallels to how Detroit automakers contributed to armament production during WWII.
  • The Trump administration is also proposing to raise defense spending to $1.5 trillion for the 2027 budget, marking one of the largest military funding requests in decades.

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