
Absent its own acquisition or technology budget, U.S. Central Command has a need for $150 million in fiscal year 2026 to purchase new and emerging systems and technologies to test and evaluate outside of similar activities the military services do. This operational testing, in what is a “live ‘battle lab’” environment in the Middle East, would inform the military services’ programs, provide feedback for operators, and lower risks associated with these systems, outgoing CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Kurilla says as…