Officials stated on Tuesday that the Army’s procurement objectives for critical munitions may be undergoing a shift, breaking from the U.S. government’s customary reluctance to discuss weapons expenditures amid heightened tensions with Iran during the Trump administration.
Increasing the annual production of Patriot air defense missiles, specifically the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement variant, remains a top priority, according to Gen. Frank Lozano, the Army’s fires portfolio acquisition executive, who spoke during a panel at the AUSA annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
Our objective has consistently been to reach 2,000 interceptors, with ongoing discussions about exceeding that number,” he stated. “However, as we consider total missile production—whether 4,000, 6,000, or 8,000 units—we are evaluating a range of capabilities. This approach ensures we can counter the threat effectively while maintaining affordability, allowing the U.S. Army to sustain its warfighting capabilities overseas.
Lozano responded to concerns about depleted stockpiles by reiterating the government’s position that current reserves are adequate.
To prevail across all operational theaters, we must ensure sufficient depth in our munitions inventory from a foundational joint force perspective, enabling meaningful contributions to collective operations,” he explained. “I will continue to affirm our department leadership’s stance: while we possess the necessary capabilities to fight and win today, our responsibility lies in securing future victory across any dynamic environment or scenario.
The Army is also evaluating the potential acquisition of PAC-2 Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical (GEM-T) systems, he noted.
Should we procure GEM-Ts? Given their current production, Lozano questioned. ‘If these missiles are available now and prove effective in their operational domain, seizing the opportunity would be advantageous—and we are actively pursuing this option.’
The Army’s capacity to expand these procurement initiatives hinges on Congressional funding, according to Brent Ingraham, the Army’s civilian acquisition chief.
We continuously assess budgetary outcomes, Ingraham remarked, noting that funding levels and the nature of appropriations—whether through reconciliation or otherwise—dictate our priorities. Having identified essential missions for current and near-term needs, we will adjust our systems allocation as necessary to concentrate on key initiatives pending final budget determinations.