The War Department has announced significant advancements in defense innovation with the first round of Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 projects through the Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) program. Over $1 billion has been allocated to small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors nationwide. This funding aims to enhance warfighter readiness and strengthen the U.S. industrial base.
Overview of APFIT Funding
With the latest announcements, the APFIT program is poised to make considerable strides in technological capabilities. The awards are expected to transition rapidly from development to initial production, emphasizing the delivery of mission-critical solutions while expanding opportunities for small businesses, especially those in remote and underserved regions.
Public Statement
Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, highlighted the importance of this initiative. “Crossing the billion-dollar threshold underscores APFIT’s commitment to America’s small business innovators,” he stated. “We are proud to accelerate the delivery of these critical capabilities to our warfighters.”
Key Project Highlights for FY 2026
The initial selections for FY 2026 reveal the program’s increasing scale and maturity. The average award per project now exceeds $30 million, with the largest single award reaching $49.7 million. This reflects both operational demand and the program’s effectiveness in transitioning mature technologies.
Selected Projects and Funding Allocations
| Project Title | Funding ($ Million) | Department/Branch |
|---|---|---|
| Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) for Ground Based Air Defense | 20.00 | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Deployable, Attritable Optical Systems | 22.15 | U.S. Space Force |
| Domestic High Performance UAS Batteries | 28.00 | U.S. Navy |
| Gremlin Low-Cost Munition | 35.00 | U.S. Marine Corps |
| High Frequency Intercept Direction Finding and Exploitation (HIDES) | 21.66 | U.S. Army |
| Kraken 18 Communications Pod | 33.00 | U.S. Navy |
| Miniaturized Gyroscope for Resilient Navigation | 20.00 | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Mobile Smart Manufacturing for Airframe Spares | 25.00 | U.S. Air Force |
| Augmented Maneuver Vehicle for Satellites | 48.50 | U.S. Space Force |
| Real-Time Command and Control at the Tactical Edge | 49.70 | U.S. Army |
| Small Uncrewed Maritime Vessels | 24.00 | U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps |
| Tactical High-Bandwidth, Low-Latency Data Network | 10.00 | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Trolling Uncrewed Navigation Assistant (TUNA) Seeker | 35.00 | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Whaleshark Autonomous Low-Profile Vessel (ALPV) | 29.49 | U.S. Marine Corps |
Future Announcements
Additional projects for FY 2026 will be revealed throughout the fiscal year. APFIT continues to be a crucial part of the War Department’s strategy to ensure that the United States retains its technological edge.
