The Army is collaborating with partners to deliver change and innovations that promote “continuous transformation,” the acting assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology said July 22.

“We are embracing change, driving innovation, fostering competition and delivering capabilities with the speed and precision that our soldiers deserve,” Jesse Tolleson Jr. said at a Hot Topic on contracting and procurement hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army. “Our success will depend on collaborative innovation across government, industry and academia. When we are able to pull resources, share risk and align incentives, we will accelerate progress and unlock new capabilities.”

The Army’s fiscal 2026 budget request allocates $43.6 billion for procurement and research, development, test and evaluation funding, which will “lay the groundwork for a more lethal, agile and resilient Army,” Tolleson said.

In addition to strengthening the organic industrial base, the Army’s “priority investments” will be Next Generation Command and Control, the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft, the M1E3 tank, unmanned aircraft systems and loitering munitions, counter-UAS capabilities and integrating air defense sensors and munitions, he said.

Another vital aspect of readiness is ensuring soldiers can fix their gear, Tolleson said. “In order to ensure operational readiness, our soldiers must have the appropriate levels of access to the intellectual property, data and associated license rights needed to repair our systems,” he said. “The goal is a more resilient force that can sustain systems quickly, affordably and independently.”

When deterrence fails, innovation gives soldiers a “decisive edge” in the future fight, Tolleson said.

“As we all know, the enemy will always have a vote, so credible deterrence will always be our goal,” he said. “But if deterrence fails, our job is to ensure soldiers enter the fight with a decisive edge. We must act boldly. We must innovate relentlessly, and we must do it together with industry, academia and our acquisition professionals working in lockstep.”