WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of

Defense wants new and existing defense contracts to give the

Army the right to repair its own weapons, in a bid to save money

and time by ending requirements to use original manufacturers

for servicing.

The move introducing a "right to repair" outlined in an

April 30 memo signed by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth

is expected to improve the Army's ability to maintain and

upgrade its equipment, reducing reliance on original

manufacturers and enhancing operational efficiency.

Currently, the government is often required to pay

contractors like Lockheed Martin Corp ( LMT ), Boeing Co ( BA ),

and RTX Corp ( RTX ), to use expensive original equipment and

installers to service broken parts versus having trained

military maintainers 3D print spares in the field and install

them faster and cheaper.

Under the provision, the Army wants to give itself the right

to conduct maintenance and access necessary tools, software, and

technical data without being hindered by intellectual property

constraints.

The contracts should loosen restrictions, "while preserving

the intellectual capital of American industry," Hegseth's memo

says.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, has

pressed for right to repair provisions at the Pentagon.

"This reform means the Army will be more resilient in future

wars, and it will end the days of soldiers being dependent on

giant defense contractors charging billions and taking months

and months to get the equipment they need repaired," she said.

The change is part of a broader effort to accelerate

modernization and acquisition efficiency. In March Hegseth asked

the Pentagon to shift how it buys software, eyeing greater

access to commercial and non-traditional software providers as

the Pentagon hopes to rapidly modernize its weapons and business

systems.

Hegseth's memo this week also directed the Army to

prioritize investments in long-range precision fires, air and

missile defense, cyber, electronic warfare, and counter-space

capabilities.