The Pentagon’s 2026 budget includes a record-breaking $179 billion just for research, development, testing, and evaluation. That’s not for jets, tanks, or missiles, it’s for what comes after them.From drone swarms and hypersonic missiles to battlefield lasers and AI-driven targeting, this budget gives us a glimpse into how the U.S. military expects to fight its next war. It also raises big questions: Are we moving fast enough? Are we building the right tools? And how much of this money is going to systems we’ll actually use?In this video, we break down what’s in the Pentagon’s R&D budget, how much is going to unclassified vs. black programs, and what it all means for service members, taxpayers, and future conflicts.
