Washington: The Pentagon has earmarked over $10.8 billion for the development of 25 weapons under its SHOTCALLER program aimed at deterring China. This includes an allocation of $1.16 billion specifically for the fiscal year 2026.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, documents from the US Department of Defense reveal that the largest share of the initiative, the Advanced Innovative Technologies Program, is set to receive $1.16 billion for 2026. Prior to this, over $9.6 billion has already been expended on the program in previous years.

The projects within this initiative carry code names such as Asgard, Bedlam, Lazarus, Oculus Prime, Pele, and Rolling Dice. While some areas have already received hundreds of millions of dollars in funding, certain projects are scheduled to commence only in 2026.

The Pentagon emphasizes that these new developments are intended to address vulnerabilities identified during recent military exercises. The aim is to bolster the United States’ strategic position in any potential conflict with China.

The SHOTCALLER program focuses on creating long-range weapons and gathering data through space, air, and sea systems. The Pentagon anticipates that this program will facilitate quicker and more accurate strikes in the Asia-Pacific region should a conflict arise.