Department of War Partners With the Genesis Mission to Proliferate AI for Science

July 22, 2026 |

The Department of War is a dedicated partner in the Genesis Mission, a national effort to leverage artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific discovery. Led by the White House, the Department is committing substantial resources and technical expertise to its success. The Department is on track to commit over $200 million in funding across Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and over $1.3 billion in FY 2027 to advance critical National Science & Technology Challenges.

The Department of War plans to leverage the Genesis Mission American Science and Security Platform, built by the Department of Energy (DOE), which will connect data, compute, scientific instrumentation and AI tools to accelerate scientific discovery and technological innovation. The Department is providing decades of validated aeronautic, hydrodynamic, acoustic and sensor data directly into the platform via the Genesis Mission Platform. This integration will ultimately enable automated design loops, decision superiority and scaled breakthroughs in national security research.

A cornerstone of the Department of War's financial commitment is the Digital Biosecurity Forge (DB-FORGE) project, a high-performance computing environment developed in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. This represents a significant investment, starting with $30 million in FY 2026 and projected to scale to $150 million in FY 2027. In addition to this flagship project, the Department is aligning funding across its broader research and development portfolio, including efforts in biomanufacturing, human health and biosecurity policy. This ensures the Department's contributions are robust, well-resourced and fully integrated with the Genesis Mission's AI for science capabilities.

"President Trump has mandated that the United States be the dominant global leader in AI, and the Genesis Mission represents an unprecedented opportunity to unlock our nation's scientific might," said Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael. "The Department of War is scaling investments across AI, quantum computing and biotechnology to turn our decades of data into a catalyst for scientific discovery to support the American warfighter."

The Genesis Mission provides a collaborative opportunity for government and industry partners to advance the Department of War's efforts to increase and accelerate technological advances to defend the Homeland, deter adversaries and supercharge the defense industrial base.

Large-Scale Cybersecurity Exercise Focuses on Operational Technology

July 21, 2026 | By Matthew Olay, Pentagon News |

This year's iteration of the War Department's longest-running unclassified cyber defense exercise is largely focused on operational technology, military cyber professionals said today during a virtual media roundtable.

Hosted by the National Guard Bureau, the roundtable was part of Cyber Shield 2026 — a training event that brings together more than 1,000 participants from 44 states and territories, as well as 23 countries, in Little Rock, Arkansas, July 12-25. It's designed to develop, train and exercise cyber forces in the areas of computer network internal defense measures and cyber incident response. 

Whereas information technology focuses on the management of data, networks and software, operational technology refers to the control and monitoring of physical machinery, industrial equipment and operational processes. 

One reason operational technology security has become increasingly important this year, and in recent years, is that remote work has become much more prevalent since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, said Army Brig. Gen. Russell E. McGuire, National Guard Bureau vice director of cyber operations. 

"Pre-pandemic, most of our workforce went to office buildings. … As we transitioned to remote work, it created tremendous vulnerabilities," he said.  

Beyond IT professionals working remotely during the pandemic, McGuire said some critical infrastructure employees wanted remote access, which forced companies to connect IT systems to operational technology, thereby creating a new security risk. 

Each year, the exercise focuses on different areas of critical infrastructure, which often relies on operational technology; this year's focus is the electric grid. 

"As you look to sectors of target, there is a need to continue to come back to the electric sector, as attacks on the electric sector impact all sectors instantaneously," said Tim Conway, a fellow and technical director at the SANS Institute, which provides cybersecurity training, certifications and research to the War Department.   

One way the exercise combats threats to operational technology is by simulating real-world cyberattacks with SANS NetWars — a series of hands-on interactive learning exercises. 

Roughly 400 participants are taking part in this year's NetWars, contributing their own time during the weekends and in the evenings, McGuire said. 

"This is time they could be hanging out, catching a movie [or] relaxing, but the knowledge that they build just being in that room with these other experts, competing with each other is what makes this such a great exercise for them to take back to their units [and] their jobs, and that's why they keep coming back and growing each year," he added. 

Members of the Army and Air National Guard have participated in Cyber Shield annually since the event's inception in 2013.

Department of War Invests $7.1M to Enhance Space Solar Cell Coverglass Manufacturing

July 17, 2026 |

The Department of War announced today a July 7, 2026, investment of $7.1 million in Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III funds to Martin Materials Solutions LLC (Martin Materials Solutions). The investment will establish and scale domestic supply of space solar cell coverglass manufacturing in Twinsburg, Ohio. Used on every satellite, solar cell coverglass protects sensitive solar cells by providing radiation shielding, selective wavelength filtering, and defense against micrometeorites, while ensuring structural stability. This investment supports the Administration's goal to increase key space industrial base capabilities as articulated in the December 18, 2025, Executive Order 14369 - Ensuring American Space Superiority.

"Space-qualified coverglass is a critical component for ensuring the longevity and efficiency of a satellite's power system," said Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, the Honorable Michael Cadenazzi. "A robust domestic manufacturing capability secures our national space assets and ensures the continuity of our orbital missions."

These DPA Title III funds will enable Martin Materials Solutions to scale and de-risk advanced manufacturing processes which are needed to ensure the U.S. domestic supply of critical space solar technology. This project will enable Martin Materials Solutions to fully establish a sustainable manufacturing operation, expanding current capability in terms of modern manufacturing and test equipment, specialized personnel, additional raw material, and facilities for the design, development, and manufacture of coverglass.

This is one of six DPA Title III investments totaling $109.7 million made by the WIRE directorate since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2026. Recipient cost shares total $1.1 million in FY 2026. For more information on the WIRE directorate, please visit: https://www.businessdefense.gov/ibr/wire.html.

About the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (OASW(IBP))

The OASW(IBP) works with domestic and international partners to forge and sustain a robust, secure, and resilient industrial base enabling the Warfighter, now and in the future. OASW(IBP) also uses a new Defense Industrial Base Consortium Other Transaction Agreement (DIBC OTA) to solicit new ideas for research or prototype project solutions for critical supply chain resiliency focus areas. This OTA underscores the Department's ongoing dedication to safeguarding the integrity of our crucial supply chain and promptly giving our Warfighters the materials and technologies they need to accomplish their missions. To learn more about the DIBC OTA, please visit: https://www.dibconsortium.org.

Department of War Announces Landmark Agreements With New Entrants to Accelerate Low-Cost, Air-Launched Cruise Missiles

July 15, 2026 |

The Department of War (DoW) today announced framework agreements with three industry partners to complete testing and qualification of the Family of Affordable Mass Missiles (FAMM) Air Force program. Through agreements with Anduril, CoAspire, and Zone 5, the DoW will accelerate rapid validation of a new family of low-cost, air-launched cruise missiles – capabilities that will strengthen the Arsenal of Freedom.

The agreements are a direct outcome of several Acquisition Transformation Strategy initiatives, including stabilizing demand signals, procuring industry-driven solutions, and maximizing flexible contracting.

"The Arsenal of Freedom of the 21st Century requires doing business differently," said Michael P. Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment. "Today's announcement showcases the Acquisition Transformation Strategy in action, expanding the defense industrial base, fielding capabilities faster, and attracting private investment to fund innovation and increase manufacturing output."

A key feature of these deals is the establishment of seven-year, multi-year agreements which, subject to congressional appropriations and enactment of all necessary authorizations, will be awarded upon the successful validation and competitive selection of the munitions. The Department was granted 5-year authorization for FAMM in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and is actively seeking congressional approval in the FY27 NDAA and Appropriations Bill for a 7-year multi-year procurement program to provide stability to new entrants.

Offering both lugged and palletized variants, the FAMM provides the Air Force with flexible logistics, handling, and deployment options. These variants will be acquired under a single, combined competition.

The Department's procurement strategy for FAMM is a unique model balancing competition, stability and long-term demand signals to scale production.

The multi-year approach utilizes firm-fixed-price contracting with a minimum quantity floor. Shares are split among all qualified vendors to ensure multiple production lines are positioned to surge.

Contractors that meet or exceed production schedules will be eligible for additional procurement quantities – pending congressional appropriations – fostering a competitive environment that rewards efficiency and speed. The Department will also preserve competition opportunities for new vendors to be onboarded for additional quantities and new capabilities in the future as technology continues to advance.

The FAMM program centers acquisition on speed, with the program first appearing in the Air Force's FY26 budget proposal. The DoW leverages new ways of doing business to rapidly accelerate the development and fielding of capability through a focus on testing and delivering stable, long-term demand signals to incentive investment.

FAMM builds on the Department's recent Low-Cost Containerized Missiles (LCCM) announcement, which is the ground-launched variant of affordable cruise missiles. Together, these programs will deliver lethal, low-cost munitions for warfighters to deter and defeat adversaries.

This initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Department of War's Munitions Acceleration Council, the Economic Defense Unit, and the Air Force, all focused on a singular goal of scaling weapons production to meet operational demands and ensure long-term industrial capacity.

The Department of War's Office of Strategic Capital Introduces National Security Fund Finance Program

July 14, 2026 |

The Department of War's Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) is pleased to announce the introduction of the National Security Fund Finance (NSFF) program, which aims to provide capital support to credit funds addressing shortages, gaps, and vulnerabilities in critical minerals vital to United States national security.  OSC's mission is to advance these strategic interests by providing direct loans and deploying other financial tools, with the NSFF program acting as the fund-level financing solution to accomplish that goal.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump, provided funding for OSC to support critical minerals and materials. The NSFF program will provide loans to qualified investment fund managers, who will combine OSC loans with private capital to invest in portfolio companies focused on addressing U.S. national security shortages related to critical minerals and materials.

"The NSFF program clearly advances OSC's goal of crowding-in private capital to address shortages that are vital to U.S. national security. Paired with private capital, NSFF will drive significant investment to address gaps and vulnerabilities in our U.S. critical minerals industry. OSC is taking decisive action to restore our domestic critical minerals supply chain, revive our industrial base, and rebuild our military to achieve President Trump's goal of peace through strength," said David A. Lorch, Director of the Office of Strategic Capital and Senior Advisor to Deputy Secretary of War Steve Feinberg.

OSC is scheduled to issue a formal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) imminently. The application link will be posted on OSC's website, accompanied by an official press release on the Department's website. The NOFO application period will open upon its official publication.

"President Trump has led the way in leveraging the strength of the United States' world-leading capital markets," said Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. "The Office of Strategic Capital's NSFF program represents another tool that will establish true U.S. independence in the critical minerals supply chain."

Department of War Issues Final FY26 APFIT Awards, Surpassing $2 Billion Milestone and Debuting Software Capabilities

July 14, 2026 |

The Department of War today announced a new round of awards under the Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) program, marking a major milestone as the program surpasses $2 billion in total awards since its inception.

This latest cohort builds on APFIT's proven track record of rapidly transitioning cutting-edge technologies into operational use, delivering over 100 unique capabilities to date to the warfighter at speed and scale.

"APFIT has fundamentally reshaped how the Department of War accelerates the transition of innovative technologies to the warfighter," said Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. "Our adversaries are not waiting, and neither will we. By scaling the APFIT program past $2 billion, we are equipping the Joint Force with the lethal capabilities to guarantee dominance on the battlefield."

By aligning funding with near-term operational needs, APFIT has enabled the rapid deployment of mission-critical systems across mission areas including autonomous systems, electronic warfare, expeditionary manufacturing, counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS), resilient communications, contested logistics and resilient energy.

A defining feature of APFIT's success has been its ability to bring emerging innovators into the national security ecosystem, expanding the defense industrial base by partnering with small, non-traditional, and venture-backed companies. APFIT has provided a pathway for innovative companies to deliver impactful solutions without the traditional barriers of defense acquisition.

The final round of FY 2026 procurement selections include*:

• Advanced Navigation for UAS and Launched Effects, $11.24 million, U.S. Army
• Assured Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Device at Scale, $43.00 million, U.S. Army
• Autonomous Low-Profile Vehicle (ALPV) Liberty, $32.58 million, U.S. Marine Corps
• Beyond Line-of-Sight Link (BLink), $15.55 million, U.S. Pacific Command
• Counter for All-Domain Operations, $28.00 million, U.S. Army
• Dragonfly – Electronic Warfare Sensor, $24.17 million, U.S. Special Operations Command
• Drake Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS), $11.35 million, U.S. Navy
• DYNAMO Expeditionary Power, $20.50 million, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps
• Expeditionary Multi-Band Protected Communications, $15.86 million, U.S. Navy
• Forward Operations Resilient Grid & Energy Environment (FORGE), $14.72 million, U.S. Army
• Harbinger Open-Architecture Mass Munitions, $30.20 million, U.S. Strategic Command
• High-Energy Density Fuel, $23.00 million, U.S. Marine Corps
• Kinetic Electronic Safe and Arming Devices and Payloads, $12.98 million, U.S. Marine Corps
• Low Collateral Effects Interceptor & Multi-Mission UAS, $17.50 million, U.S. Air Force
• Mira Highly Maneuverable Spacecraft, $19.75 million, U.S. Space Command
• Optical Navigation Kits, $13.00 million, U.S. Space Force
• Persistent Subsea Autonomous Profiler (PSAP), $30.80 million, U.S. Navy
• Self-Detoxifying Metal Organic Framework Suits for Chemical and Biological Protection, $23.67 million, Defense Threat Reduction Agency
• Tactical Airborne Communications Kit (TACKit), $12.04 million, U.S. Air Force
• Unruly Portable, One-Way Attack Unmanned Aerial System, $31.00 million, U.S. Special Operations Command
• Vehicle Protection Active Terahertz Sensor (VPATS), $12.00 million, U.S. Army
• Wallabee – Low size, weight, and power (SWaP) Sensing System, $11.30 million, U.S. Northern Command
• WaterCube, $10.30 million, U.S. Transportation Command
• XSTAT Injectable Hemorrhage Control Devices for Life-Threatening Bleeding, $11.42 million, Defense Health Agency

*Does not include classified selections.

The inaugural APFIT software award selections include:

• ARCHER AI Platform for Decision Advantage, $10.00 million, U.S. Pacific Command
• Cybergenome AI Binary Analysis Software, $10.00 million, U.S. Cyber Command
• Intelligence and Operations Threat Planning Tool, $15.20 million, U.S. Air Force
• Machine Assisted Information Sharing (MAIS) System for Rapid Intelligence Disclosure, $10.00 million, U.S. Space Command
• Operator Tactical Intranet Systems (OTIS) Tactical Assault Kit, $17.00 million, U.S. Special Operations Command
• SCEPTER AI-Based Course of Action Generation, $10.00 million, U.S. Southern Command

This award cycle further expands APFIT's reach into software-only capabilities, reflecting the Department's focus on delivering adaptable, continuously improving systems. By enabling the rapid deployment of updates and enhancements, these efforts equip commanders with tools that evolve at the speed of relevance to ensure dominance across all domains of warfare.

The latest round of awards reflects continued momentum under APFIT, building on previous cohorts that have already delivered measurable operational outcomes. These include systems now actively supporting combatant commands, enhancing situational awareness and enabling decision superiority at the tactical edge.

With more than $2 billion invested to date, APFIT stands as a core component of the Department's innovation strategy, demonstrating what is possible when speed, scale and strategic focus converge. The Department will continue to expand the program's reach, identify high-impact technologies and partner with industry to deliver the next generation of mission-ready capabilities.

War Department Changes Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Requirements

July 13, 2026 | By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News |

The War Department today announced the suspension of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification phase two requirements, initially scheduled to take effect in November, and launched a comprehensive review of the entire CMMC program.

While the change eliminates costly and time-consuming bureaucracy, said Kirsten Davies, War Department chief information officer, it doesn't weaken the focus on cybersecurity.

"The Department of War is taking decisive action to clear bureaucratic roadblocks and revitalize our defense industrial base in support of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's directive to aggressively scale warfighter readiness," Davies said. "[But] I want to be clear, across the Department of War and our defense industrial base, investing in and dynamically maintaining robust cybersecurity remains a critical, nonnegotiable priority."

Companies interested in doing business with the department, Davies said, will still need to comply with cybersecurity requirements and safeguard government information according to regulations. Companies will also need to continue to meet requirements under CMMC phase one.

"We're taking this step today because reindustrializing America is a key and critical component of Secretary Pete Hegseth's vision for the arsenal of freedom across the department," Davies said.

Ensuring America's warfighters have the tools they need means ensuring the defense industrial base is agile and able to accelerate production when needed, she said, adding that for many small businesses, the bureaucratic requirements of CMMC keep them from being agile and drive them away from doing business with the department.

"The data we are seeing, including recent reports from the Small Business Administration, makes one thing clear: the current CMMC requirements, including the future planned requirements, are creating prohibitive compliance costs and unacceptable bureaucratic burdens, especially to small businesses," Davies said.

The War Department also announced the creation of a CMMC review and reform task force, which has 60 days to conduct a top-to-bottom review of the CMMC program.

"This task force will serve as the central hub for synthesizing industry feedback from our public request for information — which will be released today," Davies said. "Using these insights, the task force will recommend realistic, scalable security measures that prioritize speed-to-capability and lower barriers for small and nontraditional businesses, while still providing insights on [defense industrial base] cybersecurity and operational resilience."

Michael Duffey, undersecretary of war for acquisition and sustainment, said reform of the CMMC program is an important move toward getting the defense industrial base ready to produce things the War Department needs at the speed the department needs them.

"Rebuilding our military's competitive edge starts with a simple reality: we must put our acquisition system on a wartime footing," Duffey said. "We cannot expect our industries to build at the speed of relevance if they are drowning in peacetime paperwork and administrative bureaucracy."

By suspending onerous CMMC phase two requirements, he said, more private-sector businesses — especially small businesses — will choose to pursue doing important work for the department.

"This is about unleashing the arsenal of freedom," Duffey said. "For too long, overly burdensome cybersecurity regulations have acted as a barrier to entry, locking out the very startups, small businesses and nontraditional manufacturers across the country who drive American innovation. By pausing phase two implementation, we are keeping more companies in the DIB who would otherwise be forced out of the market at a time when we need them most."

The CMMC program, first announced in early 2020, was designed to ensure that private-sector companies working with the War Department could demonstrate their ability to securely handle sensitive government information. The program used a system of private-sector, department-approved assessors to evaluate a private company's cybersecurity compliance.

Davies said the number of available assessors is not large enough to conduct all the evaluations needed in time for the upcoming November deadline.