5G, Directed Energy Weapons, Smart Dust – DOD FY2026 Budget

1 October 2025 | ZERO5G.com |The 1,490-page Department of Defense (DOD) Budget Estimates propose funding and program planning for FY 2026. Smart dust (microelectromechanical sensor, aka/ “MEMS”) are millimeter-scale sensors that can collect and transmit data via wireless (“5G”) systems. Dual use infrastructure for global weather monitoring and experimentation provide an interoperable platform enabling military applications, such as using our atmosphere as a global sensor.

Priorities of DOD’s 2026 Budget include artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial systems, high energy laser and high power microwave systems, nanoscale materials manufacturing, microelectromechanical sensor (MEMS) / aka “smart dust,” 5G/FutureG testbeds, Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), Golden Dome for America, and classified programs.

Partnerships involve North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), National Atmospheric and Space Administration (NASA), National Security Agency (NSA), Australia, AUKUS, Israel, Japan, Korea, United Kingdom, Singapore, India, Ukraine, Taiwan, and U.S. European Command (EUCOM).

Congressional Add: Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Mirror-Based LiDAR Sensor

High Energy Laser Advanced Development

This program supports the Enhanced Trilateral Security Partnership among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (AUKUS) (Project Code 079), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) (Project Code 353), and Science and Technology (S&T) International
Engagement Initiatives (Project Code 354).

Advancing science and technology (S&T) cooperation with our Allies and partners

Leverage and advance 5G/FutureG, wireless innovations, large-scale experimentation

Next Generation Information Communications Technology (5G)

This funding is assigned to support algorithm development, data preparation, and integration experimentation to create joint DoD and IC capabilities. Further details are classified and available upon request.