The Army’s AI Shift From Policy to Operational Impact

If you’ve been part of the defense industrial base (DIB) or are looking to support the DoW, it should come as no surprise that AI is now seeing actionable impact in day-to-day operations. Strategically, AI is essential in warfighting decision-making, analyzing data and enhancing operational logistics. The Army in particular has started incorporating AI solutions across a number of elements outlined below, on the heels of several new strategy announcements and initiatives.

Rapid acquisition and software modernization. Speed is a top priority for the Army’s acquisition processes. Through the Army’s FUZE initiative and venture capital model, it is aiming to accelerate procurement timelines to less than 45 days, where AI technology will be placed in the warfighter’s hands. This represents a notable shift from traditional procurement timelines that can take years. The Army is also aligning with the DoD’s software modernization strategy, which requires robust CI/CD (Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery) platforms as a core component for developing software solutions and supporting rapid deployment. Aligning with these strategies, the Army created the Army’s Open Solicitation (AOS) pathway as a continuously open solicitation vehicle to receive innovative ideas from industry at any time instead of using the traditional RFP solicitation. Under this pathway, the Army can use Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs) and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) as procurement methods to define “areas of interest” to which industry can respond with their solutions offering. Proposals are evaluated based on individual merit not head-to-head comparisons. This approach can lead to faster evaluations and shorter award timelines, lowering barriers for non-traditional vendors.

Data integrity and reliability at the edge. Data capture, accuracy and management are critical at the edge. Mission environments are contested, so protecting data from adversaries’ alteration, false data and disruption is a core security requirement. Data integrity therefore is a prime concern for the Army. To ensure data integrity, sensors and edge devices would need to perform basic checks for usability format and completeness before data can be accepted. Cryptographic protection also ensures that data coming from approved sources is not altered in transit. Vendors and partners with expertise in these areas will gain strong traction with the Army.

Data transformation and movement. Reliable AI needs reliable data and the Army has identified its need for a reliable framework to gather, clean and move data securely between units and platforms so insights can be trusted for decision-making. As a data-centric enterprise, the Army treats data as a core warfighting asset and ensures that high-quality data is available, sharable and usable across units and missions with nearly 80% of AI cost from data movement and transformation not AI modeling. Vendors and partners that can provide solutions that reduce processes, automate data ingestion and converge fragmented workflows to increase efficiency will be well positioned to win more business.

Cloud and cybersecurity. Reliable cloud infrastructure coupled with strong cybersecurity is foundational to the Army’s AI adoption. AI applications must run securely across Army units and at the tactical edge to be trusted in real missions. Vendors and partners offering AI will need to demonstrate how AI solutions can work securely at scale and at the edge. The Army has simplified policies to accelerate pathways to cloud and security, reduced repetitive ATO requirements and delegated authority to commanders for decision-making.

Usability and speed of availability. The Army is phasing out legacy software and opting for the latest commercial-off-the-shelf products prioritizing rapid adoption with measurable operational impact. Where AI-driven tools are needed to support decision-making and automation, the Army prioritizes accuracy for survivability, speed and lethality. IT companies will be more effective in messaging “speed of relevance” and continuous delivery when selling to the Army.

The Army’s recent focus on acquisition aims to help industry including small startups and non-traditional vendors get on board in support of its AI adoption efforts. Below are implications for IT vendors and partners to focus on to improve success in partnering with the Army.

  • Agile Software & DevSecOps. Offer services for rapid and software deployment. Use Low-code/no-code tools to develop applications quickly. This is essential in speeding up software development and rapid execution. Related opportunities can be found through the Army’s use of Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs) and Other Transaction Authority (OTA).
  • Data governance (collection, quality, labeling and access). Companies need to address data issues when offering AI solutions to the Army. Focus on data quality and integrity. Propose more efficient data collection, processing and ingestion that can reduce costs and inefficiency for the Army.
  • Develop or offer solutions that work with Army enterprise platforms. This supports integration rather than creating, requiring additional silo systems. AI/ML solutions need to integrate smoothly with mission commands. Solution offerings should include predictive analytics and cyber defense. IT companies that also emphasize experience and knowledge in Interoperability will have a competitive advantage.
  • Mission-ready AI. AI-enabled tools must demonstrate measurable mission impact. Products and services should be user-tested before release to minimize risks (risk reduction frameworks and simulation environments) not just a demo.
  • User-friendly solutions. Offer products supporting data-centric frameworks, commercial-off-the-shelf products and user-friendly interfaces to reduce complexity and cognitive burden at the tactical edge.
  • Training and support. Training for the Army workforce in adopting new IT tools is essential. The Army recognizes culture as a key challenge to successful implementation and adoption. AI solutions that have solid support and training will gain favor with the Army.
  • Partnership for rapid AI advancement. Be an active partner who can help the Army integrate AI into cyber defense more quickly than traditional acquisition cycles allow with emphasis on continuing candid conversations with Army commanders and stakeholders.

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About the Author:
Toan Le is a Senior Market Insights Analyst on the DLT Market Insights team covering DOD and IC domain-centric trends across the Public Sector.