From a post today by Greg Knutson on Linkedin: The DoD just dropped its RDT&E budget and it’s a $179B North Star for anyone building the future of national defense.

Here’s what’s hot (and heavily funded) :

1. Unmanned Systems and Physical AI – The budget is stacked with programs for launched effects, ground robotics, SUAS, TITAN, and AI-enabled C2. This is the golden hour for anyone working in cyber-physical systems, autonomous platforms, and real-world AI at the tactical edge.
2. AI/ML and Autonomy – Physical + digital fusion isn’t hype–it’s a requirement
3. Future Vertical Life and Next-Gen Combat Vehicles
4. Hypersonics, Precision Fires & EW – Big money flows to hypersonic weapons, integrated fires, and resilient spectrum ops
5. Biotech and Materials Sciences – Including synthetic biology, survivability enhancing materials. Big implications for dual-use founders
6. Tactical Space & Multidomain Sensing – Space is tactical now and the budget reflects it
7. Digital Pilots and Agile RDT&E – Software-defined everything. $1B+ for digital pilot programs and agile prototyping.