Secret Report: US Quietly Asks Car Factories to Produce Weapons

Jakarta - The United States government is reportedly quietly engaging with major automotive producers to bolster weapons production amid rising global conflict pressures. This step is described as part of efforts to “replenish continuously depleting military stocks”. The report was first published by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The Pentagon is said to have approached General Motors and Ford to explore the possibility of converting civilian factories into military production facilities. Discussions involving senior executives focused on how quickly commercial vehicle production lines could be redirected to produce ammunition and other combat equipment. This effort is taking place amid increasing needs due to the conflict in Ukraine and the US war against Iran. One source familiar with the talks stated that the move aims to place the US industry in a “war footing” state. This refers to the massive mobilisation during World War II when Detroit automakers halted car production and switched to building bomber aircraft and military trucks. Currently, General Motors has already supplied military vehicles through its GM Defense unit. While Ford does not have major military contracts yet, it is involved in these explorations. Besides the two automotive giants, companies like GE Aerospace and Oshkosh Corporation are also reportedly participating. The talks are said to have begun even before the US-Israel conflict with Iran erupted at the end of February. Pressure on US Weapons Stocks The pressure on US weapons stocks is increasingly felt. In the first four weeks of the Iran war, the US is said to have launched more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles. This figure has raised concerns within the Pentagon as it could significantly deplete reserves. For context, before the operation, the US Navy was estimated to have around 4,000 to 4,500 Tomahawk missiles. Analysts say this may be the reason why US President Donald Trump proposed a massive military budget of around US$1.5 trillion, or the equivalent of Rp25,500 trillion, for fiscal year 2027. This figure surges from nearly US$1 trillion, or about Rp17,000 trillion, this year. The proposal includes more than US$1.1 trillion (Rp18,700 trillion) for basic defence funding. This is further supplemented by special allocations to support ongoing military operations. Meanwhile, former Congress member Marjorie Taylor Greene claimed the cost of the war in Iran amounts to around US$2 billion per day, or the equivalent of Rp34 trillion. The independent tracking site WarSpend estimates that total US spending on the conflict has approached US$48 billion, or about Rp816 trillion, since the war began.