The rapid technological progress means that civilian technologies can today be used by the military as off-the-shelf products.

The challenge for armies is not to "plan the future" through multi-year procurement plans, but to adapt their procurement and learning processes to the pace of technological change.

For example, allowing special units to purchase off-the-shelf products and operate them, accompanied by information security to reduce cyber threats.

Does the product work? Use it in the rest of the army. Not doing the job? Stop the purchase and look for the next product.

In discussions of the military's fiscal 2025 spending plans, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Doug Bush said a multiyear procurement for something as rapidly changing as unmanned aerial systems "may not be appropriate."

"There are also a lot of new competitors in this space," Bush said at a Pentagon briefing. "Committing to one, as good as that company might be, might eliminate other options because there's so much innovation with new companies in this space."

Multi-year procurement is usually used to secure large quantities of munitions. They are thought to drive defense suppliers, who can rely on long-term requirements and consequently increase production, and save money by buying in bulk in the long run.

But focusing on the same drone year after year is another circumstance, according to Bush. The requirements for the technology can change from month to month, not to mention year to year.