DOW Aims to Accelerate Advanced Materials Processing

Feb. 13, 2026 |

The Department of War (DOW) announced today the September 17, 2025 investment on a five-year contract totaling nearly $9.2 million to the national advanced materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute, LIFT, to address manufacturing challenges associated with ceramic matrix composites (CMC). This announcement was delayed due to the government shutdown. This effort, funded through the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (OASW(IBP))'s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program, supports White House and Secretary of War priorities in advanced composites manufacturing research and development and defense industrial base workforce development.

"This project aims to disrupt manufacturing affordability through advanced materials and processing technologies," said Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy Michael Cadenazzi. "I believe its location in Detroit, Michigan at LIFT's new Ceramics Manufacturing Center will help revitalize economic growth and industrial capacity in a state with a rich history in building America's industrial might." 

While composites have been used for decades, they're relatively new to the centuries old metallics manufacturing industry. Recent advancements in carbon-fiber technologies have impacted CMCs, which are known for their ability to withstand higher temperatures as compared to their polymer composite counterparts. This capability is currently being employed in technologies used in the production of commercial products and defense-critical systems such as stealth aircraft, jet engines, and hypersonic weapons.

LIFT is 1 of 18 Manufacturing USA Innovation Institutes designed to foster innovation, enhance domestic supply chains, and forge a skilled workforce to reestablish U.S. leadership in advanced manufacturing across the globe.

Since the IBAS Program's inception in 2014, the Innovation Capability and Modernization (ICAM) Office has invested over $2.6 billion across 206 projects to restore domestic manufacturing capacity and capability. ICAM is part of OASW(IBP)'s Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) Directorate within the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Resilience. For more information on MCEIP, please visit: https://www.businessdefense.gov/ibr/mceip/index.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)'s Innovation Capability and Modernization Office, which executes the IBAS Program, provides DOW with key capabilities to achieve the strategic aims of the Department and Presidential Executive Orders. These call for a strong, resilient, responsive, and healthy national industrial base that can respond at-will to national security requirements.

Joint Force Marks First Lightfish Unmanned Vessel Launch

Feb. 11, 2026 | By Navy Lt. Heather Chairez, U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs |

Commander Task Force 66 launched the Lightfish, an unmanned surface vessel, for the first time from a partner nation's vessel during Exercise Cutlass Express 26 off the coast of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, Feb. 9.

 
The launch was part of an unmanned systems training event with the Seychelles Coast Guard, designed to test the Lightfish's abilities in the open ocean with limited connection. 
 
"We are making history at Cutlass Express 26 by demonstrating our enhanced warfighting skills through our robotic and unmanned capabilities alongside our maritime partners," said Navy Lt. Bryna Loranger, CTF 66 operations officer. "[U.S.] 6th Fleet is seeking new ways to build partner maritime domain awareness capabilities during this exercise by promoting interoperability. Through sharing and experimenting with Seychelles Coast Guard assets and infrastructure, we are enhancing our expeditionary robotic autonomous systems capabilities in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility." 
 
CTF 66 is a fully uncrewed task force that uses advanced technologies, like artificial intelligence, to help the 6th Fleet and its partners move faster to maintain a strong presence across Africa's maritime zones while detecting illegal activity. 
 
The task force is leading the Navy in innovating its approach to warfighting during an age when information systems, technology and vulnerabilities in the global economy are being weaponized by adversaries operating in the gray zone, outside the domain of traditional warfare.

 
"Through exercises like Cutlass Express 26, we are adapting alongside our partners by integrating unmanned tactics directly into operations," said Navy Rear Adm. Kelly Ward, director of strategic effects for CTF 66. "We are leaning into this domain hand in hand with our partners, translating innovation into warfighting readiness and enhancing maritime security to protect freedom of navigation." 
 
Cutlass Express 26 has 19 partners and allies working together through a series of shore-based training events. The exercise provides all participating nations with an opportunity to work side by side to synchronize and rehearse real-world scenarios that will include medical training, visit, board, search and seizure and maritime interdiction training, as well as counter illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing procedures. 
 
Established in May 2024, CTF 66 is the 6th Fleet's first all-domain task force designed to integrate robotic and autonomous systems with naval, joint and NATO partners in the European and African theaters of operations. Since its establishment, the task force has driven innovation and developed unmanned technologies to enhance the way militaries integrate naval platforms across all domains, all of which are enabled by this emerging technology.

 
CTF 66 currently maintains 22 USVs; however, the task force expects to double its lethality as additional assets reach operational readiness. These USVs increase maritime domain awareness and serve as force multipliers. 
 
Exercises like Cutlass Express allow CTF 66 to leverage strong collaboration with partners and allied nations to operate large numbers of unmanned systems at scale. These partnerships enable the task force to preposition and deploy assets in host countries ahead of time. 
 
CTF 66 and its USVs continue to enhance deterrence, lethality and capabilities in the European and African theaters of operations.

DOW Strengthens Domestic Production of Critical Display Technologies

Feb. 12, 2026 |

The Department of War (DOW) announced today two September 19, 2025 investments totaling $24.5 million to bolster the U.S. supply chain for advanced optical displays.  This announcement was delayed due to the government shutdown. The projects, funded through the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (OASW(IBP))'s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program, were awarded this summer to Kopin Corporation of Westborough, Massachusetts and Tectus Corporation of Cupertino, California. They will focus on developing and validating a cost-effective manufacturing process for MicroLED displays that are essential for next-generation weapon systems.

"Microdisplays are crucial components in delivering information to the joint warfighter and are integrated into solutions across all domains including heads-up-displays for pilots, advanced night vision goggles, weapon optics, and unmanned systems," said Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy Michael Cadenazzi. "Securing a domestic supply of advanced MicroLED displays is vital for the Department's next-generation defense applications, ensuring both performance and security."

Both projects will establish an onshore, multi-vendor supply chain of state-of-the-art MicroLED displays.  MicroLED technology promisea to enable daylight readability with full-color symbology and imagery by delivering ultra-high brightness levels that remain visible in direct sunlight, while also supporting high image quality at low brightness for nighttime operations.  The technology also allows for reduced size, weight and power, improving warfighter capability and effectiveness.

These investments demonstrate the Department's commitment to strengthening domestic manufacturing and securing critical supply chains. They also support the Secretary of War's priority of Rebuilding the Military by ensuring that there are reliable, trusted U.S. manufacturers of state-of-the-art micro-displays to enable successful development, delivery, and operation of next-generation weapon systems.

Since the IBAS Program's inception in 2014, the Innovation Capability and Modernization (ICAM) Office has invested over $2.6 billion across 205 projects to restore domestic manufacturing capacity and capability.  ICAM is part of OASW(IBP)'s Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) Directorate within the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Resilience.  For more information on MCEIP, please visit: https://www.businessdefense.gov/ibr/mceip/index.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.  The OASW(IBP)'s Innovation Capability and Modernization (ICAM) Office, which manages the IBAS Program, provides DOW with key capabilities to achieve the strategic aims of Department priorities and Presidential Executive Orders.  These call for a strong, resilient, responsive, and healthy national industrial base that can respond at-will to national security requirements.

From Backpacks to Bird's-Eye: Drones Are Transforming EOD

Feb. 10, 2026 | By Alexandra Broughton, Headquarters Air Force, Office of the Director of Civil Engineers |

Across a stretch of open terrain at Hurlburt Field, Florida, two airmen assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing began a race between machines. One guided a ground robot toward a simulated casualty, its treads working across dirt and grass. The other launched a small unmanned aerial system, or drone, which reached the site within seconds.

From above, the drone's camera streamed a clear view of the scene before the robot made it halfway there. It's a new kind of flight reshaping how explosive ordnance disposal airmen execute their mission — and how the Air Force strengthens readiness through innovation.  

Before the adoption of modernized drones, EOD teams relied primarily on heavy robotic platforms to inspect potential explosive threats. The systems still provide valuable standoff capability but require vehicle transport and setup time, limiting their use during operations on foot. In those scenarios, airmen may have to approach hazards themselves. 

Compact and portable drones can be carried in a backpack and launched within minutes. Operated from a safe distance, they stream real-time imagery that helps airmen assess hazards without approaching them. The drones give teams an unmatched view of any environment. They combine optical and thermal cameras for day or night operations with advanced 3D scanning that produces precise digital models in minutes, whether documenting blast sites or mapping entire airfields. 

Drones can be used to establish a visual reference of a runway and to collect updated imagery after an incident. The data helps civil engineers quickly identify changes or damage, supporting timely clearance actions and repair planning to resume air operations.

Built-in artificial intelligence also allows drones to operate with a high degree of autonomy. The system can identify and track targets, hold position, and navigate around obstacles with minimal operator input. These capabilities boost mission tempo and efficiency while augmenting the work of airmen, keeping them out of harm's way and allowing them to focus on critical decision-making.

Drones have not yet replaced every function of traditional robots, but the two technologies currently complement one another on the battlefield.

"The big thing doesn't currently have is manipulation," an EOD airman explained. "I can't pull a battery off something or flip something over [with a drone], but a robot can."  

Still, drones are increasingly assuming tasks once limited to ground platforms, expanding options for commanders and reinforcing the Air Force's ability to adapt faster than its adversaries. 

Introducing any new technology brings challenges, but EOD airmen at Hurlburt Field have moved quickly to overcome them. Through local innovation projects, the team acquired and tested drones early, giving them a head start in integrating the capability into daily operations.  

"We've had the ability to work through a lot of the growing pains much faster," said an airman assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing. "Now we're able to disseminate those lessons throughout the career field." 

That progress continues as airmen refine training and certification standards while identifying where drones provide the most operational value.  

"A lot of this is going to fluctuate based on use cases, because we all have a general idea of how we'd want to use this ... but there's still a lot to learn," said another EOD airman.

Wing airmen emphasized that the success of drone integration depends as much on institutional understanding as on technology itself. They said progress requires high-level advocacy to navigate the policies and risk assessments that come with operating in shared airspace, along with trust between ground units employing the systems and aviation communities managing them.  

As one airman explained, the future fight will rely on an enterprise that adapts quickly and learns from those already proving what's possible. 

At Hurlburt Field, EOD airmen are showing how small systems can yield big results. The shift from large ground robots to backpack-sized drones is transforming how they detect, respond and recover — bringing speed, precision and safety to every mission.  

"These are coming. This is the way of the future," said another airman. "If it's not in your shop currently, it probably will be in the very near future. Get ready." 

GenAI.mil's Rapid Expansion Continues With OpenAI Partnership

Feb. 9, 2026 |

In just two months since deployment, the War Department's enterprise AI platform, GenAI.mil, has surpassed one million unique users. With adoption spanning every Military Service, GenAI has cemented itself as the Department's unified environment for secure, mission-ready AI capabilities. Building on this momentum, the Department today announced a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into GenAI.mil. This partnership will make OpenAI's advanced large language models readily available to all 3 million Department personnel. ChatGPT will be made available to enhance mission execution and readiness, delivering reliable capabilities to the joint force.

GenAI.mil's rapid rise reflects a decisive cultural and technological shift, validating the Department's commitment to being an AI-first enterprise. The platform's proven reliability, evidenced by its 100% uptime since launch and its robust infrastructure, has established it as the trusted AI platform across the Department. The platform's adoption is already accelerating operational tempo and sharpening the decision superiority of its users. To ensure this advantage extends to the entire joint force, comprehensive training for all Department personnel will continue, empowering them to effectively learn the platform and integrate AI capabilities into their daily workflows.

This initiative is a direct execution of the War Department's AI Acceleration Strategy released last month, and acts on the mandate of President Trump's White House AI Action Plan. The War Department is building an AI ecosystem for speed, security, and enduring mission impact. Integrating ChatGPT into GenAI.mil marks another critical step in making frontier AI capabilities the standard for daily operations.

DOW Addresses Material Obsolescence Through Reverse Engineering Training

Feb. 9, 2026 |

The Department of War (DOW) announced today a two-year investment totaling nearly $1.8 million made in the Great Plains Innovation Network (GPIN) of Manhattan, Kansas for a reverse engineering activity for obsolescent defense-critical parts missing technical data packages.  This announcement was awarded on August 27, 2025, but this announcement was delayed due to the government shutdown. The project, funded through the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (OASW(IBP))'s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program, will culminate with updated engineering documentation for manufacturability and low-rate initial production opportunities for at least three prototypes of critical obsolescent assemblies.

"This is an important effort as some of our most important legacy systems are to some degree unsustainable as the original equipment manufacturers are no longer in our industrial base," said the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy Michael Cadenazzi.  "At the end of the project, the United States will have a more resilient and competitive supply chain as a result of the collaboration we've made possible between GPIN and Kansas State University, and others across the Midwest as they forge new partnerships." 

GPIN will partner with Kansas State University (KSU) to train interns and non-traditional defense contractors on the process of generating technical data packages (e.g., bills of material, computer aided design models, and quality documentation) for defense-critical parts and components for which technical data no longer exists.  This will open more competitive opportunities across the defense industrial base (DIB) to a wider pool of performers by enabling them to bid on parts and assemblies' contracts with known data, while limiting design workaround requirements to support the manufacture of various platforms. 

Some companies working in the DIB have gone out of business and left no technical data packages behind to support future defense manufacturing needs.  This investment supports the Secretary of War's priority of Rebuilding the Military by leveraging the Defense Logistics Agency's parts catalog to target high-demand parts and assemblies that are no longer procurable to design data packages that will support future defense-critical manufacturing needs.   

Since the IBAS Program's inception in 2014, the Innovation Capability and Modernization (ICAM) Office has invested over $2.6 billion across 204 projects to restore domestic manufacturing capacity and capability.  ICAM is part of OASW(IBP)'s Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) Directorate within the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Resilience.  For more information on MCEIP, please visit: https://www.businessdefense.gov/ibr/mceip/index.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.  The OASW(IBP)'s Innovation Capability and Modernization (ICAM) Office, which manages the IBAS Program, provides DOW with key capabilities to achieve the strategic aims of Department priorities and Presidential Executive Orders.  These call for a strong, resilient, responsive, and healthy national industrial base that can respond at-will to national security requirements.

As Promised, War Department Moving Out Fast on Drone Dominance

Feb. 6, 2026 | By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News |

The War Department announced Feb. 3 the selection of 25 vendors who will help the department achieve its goal of getting some 300,000 drones into the force, both quickly and inexpensively, by 2027.

Those companies will compete in the first phase, or "gauntlet," that makes up the department's Drone Dominance Program — an acquisition reform effort designed to rapidly field low-cost, unmanned one-way attack drones at scale. 

This first gauntlet begins Feb. 18 when program participants will bring unmanned aircraft system prototypes to Fort Benning, Georgia. There, participants will teach military personnel how to use those prototypes, and then military operators will use them to complete various mission scenarios, including an evaluation on their ability to find, lock on and destroy a target. 

By the end of the first gauntlet, vendors will be scored on the systems, and up to 12 of the 25 vendors will be invited to produce their drones, at scale, for the department. 

As part of the first phase, the selected 12 vendors will produce a total of 30,000 units, at an average price of $5,000 for each, and deliver by July. 

Over the course of three additional gauntlets — a total of four in all — the number of vendors will go down from 12 to five, the number of drones ordered will increase from 30,000 to 150,000, and the price per drone will drop from $5,000 to just $2,300. 

The Drone Dominance Program will do two things: drive costs down and capabilities up, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a video posted to social media late last year. 

 "We will deliver tens of thousands of small drones to our force in 2026, and hundreds of thousands of them by 2027." 

Through the program, funding will allow for the manufacture of some 340,000 small UAS to combat units over the course of two years. 

After that, it's expected that American industry's interest in building drones, as a result of the program, will have strengthened supply chains and manufacturing capacity to the point that military services will be able to afford to buy the drones they want, in the quantity they want and at a price they want, through regular budgeting. 

Last year, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order outlining how the United States would up its drone game in both the commercial and military sectors, including how it would deliver massive amounts of inexpensive, American-made, lethal drones to military units, so they can amplify their own combat capabilities.