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US Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg has asked American defense contractors to sharply speed up weapons output, telling them that "years-long development cycles are not acceptable," according to reports. The push follows the depletion of US munitions and interceptor stocks during the war with Iran, which has strained supply chains for air defense and precision weapons. Funding intended to expand production capacity is currently held up in Congress, limiting how quickly manufacturers can respond to the Pentagon's request. The episode highlights how the conflict with Iran has exposed structural weaknesses in the American defense industrial base, with implications for US readiness and for continued resupply of allies in the region.