The US Central Command has launched a new task force aimed at speeding up the delivery of advanced technology and combat systems to deployed forces.
The Rapid Employment Joint Task Force (REJTF), announced September 23, will be led by CENTCOM Chief Technology Officer Joy Shanaberger. It seeks to compress the timeline for fielding combat-ready technology to 60 days or less.
The task force will focus on three areas — capability, software, and tech diplomacy — while coordinating existing efforts across service branches.
“Equipping skilled warfighters faster with cutting-edge capabilities will deter bad actors,” Shanaberger said.
CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper added that the initiative will support the government’s drive to “rapidly equip our warriors.”
“This is about getting new warfighting capabilities into the hands of our skilled warfighters faster,” he said.
The REJTF is part of a Pentagon-wide push to accelerate the acquisition and deployment of drones and other emerging technologies. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has earlier issued guidance for increased productivity in the country’s drone manufacturing base and for integrating low-cost, combat-ready unmanned systems into military units more quickly.
Broader Efforts to Modernize
Experts on the task force will come from diverse fields, including logistics, acquisitions, data integration, and warfighter training. By bringing these disciplines together, CENTCOM hopes to identify more efficient ways to equip troops while coordinating with regional partners.
“Working shoulder-to-shoulder with regional partners to innovate and adapt is more critical than ever,” Cooper said.
The announcement comes after last week’s Red Sands exercise in Saudi Arabia, the largest live-fire counter-drone drill in the Middle East to date. More than 300 personnel tested 20 counter-unmanned aerial systems, combining US, Saudi, and industry expertise to evaluate technologies for detecting, tracking, and neutralizing drone threats.
In May, key leaders from the Department of Defense and industry players gathered together in a summit to discuss solutions to the “pressing challenge of accelerating the transition of technology to the warfighter.”
