APFIT Archives

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman John Ives, 90th Ground Combat Training Squadron defender, pilots a drone during an X4 and SMASH 2000L Systems Firing Qualification at Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center’s North Training Area, Wyoming, May 15, 2026. The drone carried balloon targets to help operators practice acquiring, tracking and engaging simulated aerial threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Michael A. Richmond)

7th Air Force seeks new counter-drone capabilities for point defense modernization in South Korea

The RFI release comes amid growing concerns about North Korea’s drone arsenal.

Oct 5, 2026 By Jon Harper

Pentagon CTO Emil Michael speaks onstage alongside Rep. Ken Calvert and Rep. Betty McCollum at an APFIT event in the Cannon House Office Building on July 21, 2026. (DOD Photo)

Pentagon’s next APFIT round will prioritize tech that ‘can be made cheaply at scale’

Applications will soon open for the next round of DOD's Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies program.

Jul 22, 2026 By Brandi Vincent

Pentagon announces more than $500M in new procurements for APFIT program, including software

The initiative aims to speed the delivery of new tech to the services and combatant commands.

Jul 14, 2026 By Jon Harper

Autonomous ground vehicles (Image courtesy of Overland AI)

Overland AI lands Pentagon contract to produce autonomous ground vehicles for Marine Corps

Overland AI co-founder and CEO Byron Boots said that initial deliveries are scheduled to begin about nine months after contract award.

Jun 29, 2026 By Jon Harper

The U.S. Capitol, pictured near the Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia, on December 14, 2024. (Photo by Tom Brenner for The Washington Post via Getty Images) The U.S. Capitol, pictured near the Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia, on December 14, 2024. (Photo by Tom Brenner for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Nominee for key Pentagon R&E post vows to accelerate prototyping, experimentation

If confirmed, James Caggy would serve as the assistant secretary of defense for mission capabilities.

Oct 28, 2025 By Mikayla Easley

Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu meets with Maj. Grover Smith of the Indiana National Guard during Technology Readiness Experimentation (T-REX) 2023 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. (Defense Department photo).

DOD to award $50M to accelerate development of emerging tech projects

“With the backing of APFIT, these companies have an opportunity to push their innovations over the finish line,” Heidi Shyu said.

Dec 7, 2024 By Mikayla Easley

Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA) (L) and full committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) (R) appear at a House Appropriations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on April 17, 2024 in Washington, DC. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., and Department of Defense Comptroller Michael McCord are on Capitol Hill to present the 2025 budget request for the Defense Department. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

House appropriators propose more than $1.3B for DIU, other tech acceleration initiatives

A fiscal 2025 defense appropriations bill was released by the House Appropriations Committee.

Jun 4, 2024 By Jon Harper

AI, space, integrated sensing and cyber dominate Pentagon’s S&T funding plans

The department is requesting $17.2 billion for science and technology projects in fiscal 2025, and most of it would be dedicated to three capability areas, according to…

May 1, 2024 By Jon Harper

HAC-D chair wants to give new DIU director more flexibility to aggressively buy commercial tech

In its fiscal 2024 defense spending bill, the House Appropriations Committee is recommending the allocation of just over $1 billion to create a “hedge portfolio” of emerging…

Jul 1, 2023 By Mikayla Easley