counter uas
April 9, 2026
5 min read
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DroneWire Intelligence
How the Army could spend nearly $19 billion in RDT&E funding
AI Analysis
The U.S. Army plans to allocate a significant portion of its nearly $19 billion RDT&E budget to programs such as counter-drone technology, FLRAA, THAAD, hypersonic weapons, and M-SHORAD. These investments indicate a focus on enhancing air defense and modernizing military capabilities.
Confidence: 85%
Key Takeaways
- The Army's RDT&E budget is nearly $19 billion.
- Key programs include counter-drone technology, FLRAA, THAAD, hypersonic weapons, and M-SHORAD.
- Counter-drone technology is a major focus area for the Army.
- The budget allocation reflects a strategic emphasis on air defense and modernization.
- These programs aim to address emerging threats and integrate advanced technologies.
Why It Matters
The strategic allocation of funds towards counter-drone technology and other advanced defense systems underscores the Army's commitment to addressing evolving aerial threats. This focus on modernization is crucial for maintaining technological superiority and ensuring national security in the face of sophisticated adversaries.
<p><a href="https://breakingdefense.com/2026/04/how-the-army-could-spend-nearly-19-billion-in-rdte-funding/"><img width="1024" height="576" src="https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/04/Bells-FLRAA-program-showcases-how-MOSA-and-the-digital-backbone-can-enable-rapid-upgrades-and-integration-of-new-technologies.-Bell-photo-1024x576.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto!important;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/04/Bells-FLRAA-program-showcases-how-MOSA-and-the-digital-backbone-can-enable-rapid-upgrades-and-integration-of-new-technologies.-Bell-photo-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/04/Bells-FLRAA-program-showcases-how-MOSA-and-the-digital-backbone-can-enable-rapid-upgrades-and-integration-of-new-technologies.-Bell-photo-350x197.jpg 350w, https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/04/Bells-FLRAA-program-showcases-how-MOSA-and-the-digital-backbone-can-enable-rapid-upgrades-and-integration-of-new-technologies.-Bell-photo-768x432.jpg 768w, https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/04/Bells-FLRAA-program-showcases-how-MOSA-and-the-digital-backbone-can-enable-rapid-upgrades-and-integration-of-new-technologies.-Bell-photo-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/04/Bells-FLRAA-program-showcases-how-MOSA-and-the-digital-backbone-can-enable-rapid-upgrades-and-integration-of-new-technologies.-Bell-photo-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/04/Bells-FLRAA-program-showcases-how-MOSA-and-the-digital-backbone-can-enable-rapid-upgrades-and-integration-of-new-technologies.-Bell-photo-1070x602.jpg 1070w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></p><p>The programs taking up the majority of the Army’s RDT&E funding include FLRAA, THAAD, hypersonic weapons, counter drone tech and M-SHORAD. </p>
Tags
USA
counter-drone
THAAD
hypersonic weapons
M-SHORAD