The United States announced Thursday (10.01.2026) the awarding of a $24.4 billion contract to weapons manufacturer Raytheon to accelerate production of SM-6 missiles, while the Pentagon works to replace the large quantity of munitions used in the war with Iran.

The missiles are "vital ammunition for anti-air and anti-surface warfare. This five-year agreement, with two additional optional years, will allow for faster production," the Pentagon said in a statement.

The agreement "provides the defense industry with the long-term predictability needed to expand workforce capacity and secure critical supply chains," it added.

President Donald Trump has so far ignored questions about the heavy impact the war against Iran has had on U.S. ammunition reserves, a conflict that the United States and Israel began on February 28.

Inventory Shortfalls Due to the War Against Iran

But the Department of Defense inspector general stated last month that "the expenditure of munitions (…) has caused strategic inventory shortfalls and has exposed bottlenecks in the industrial base for ammunition resupply."

Raytheon described its SM-6 missile as a "combat-proven weapon" having launched it "successfully from various U.S. Navy shipboard platforms and from ground launchers," according to a statement released Wednesday.

Tehran continues to control the strategic Strait of Hormuz more than seven months after the initial U.S. and Israeli attacks against the Islamic Republic, while Washington maintains a blockade on Iranian ports.

Trump has told his advisers that he hopes to resume bombing Iran toward the end of November, the Wall Street Journal reported, which would set the stage for new Iranian attacks and greater expenditure of U.S. munitions.