U.S. Department of Defense

What U.S. Department of Defense does

The U.S. Department of War (renamed from the Department of Defense in September 2025 under President Trump's executive order, restoring the pre-1947 designation) is the U.S. federal cabinet-level department responsible for providing the military forces needed to deter war and ensure national security. The department comprises 3.5 million military and civilian personnel across six service branches—Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard—plus the National Guard, with global operating geographies spanning the Indo-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere. The organization does not generate revenue; it is funded through annual congressional appropriations, with the FY 2027 budget proposal requesting $1.5 trillion for defense, supplemented by an $87.6 billion supplemental request (of which $67 billion is allocated to the Defense Department) for Iran war costs and other items.

Its core internal technology stack centers on GenAI.mil, an enterprise generative AI platform launched December 2025 that has scaled from 80,000 to approximately 1.5 million daily users (roughly 43% of the workforce) and integrates Google Gemini for Government, OpenAI ChatGPT (certified at Impact Level 5), and xAI Grok. Operational AI capabilities include the Agent Network and Palantir's Maven Smart System for autonomous targeting—which the department reports enabled more than 1,000 target strikes in the first 24 hours of Operation Epic Fury in Iran—and Agent Designer, on which more than 100,000 AI agents have been built. Underlying compute includes the Flyer Supercomputer (~186,000 processing cores, ~14 petaflops). Forward-looking programs include the $1.1 billion Drone Dominance Program targeting 200,000 uncrewed aerial systems by 2027, up to $200 million for quantum sensing for ISR, a Post-Quantum Cryptography Strategy mandating quantum-resistant encryption by 2031, and directed energy weapons with over $2 billion in FY 2027 R&D allocation.

The department's procurement and partnership model operates through direct competitive contracting with defense primes (Lockheed Martin's $35.3 billion THAAD contract to quadruple interceptor production; Huntington Ingalls' $417.7 million Navy ship elevator maintenance contract), Foreign Military Sales to allied nations (e.g., $482.2 million to India for Apache and Howitzer sustainment, over $30 million to the Lebanese Armed Forces), and direct deployment of military forces for combat operations, counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, and disaster response. To secure critical mineral supply chains ahead of a January 2027 DFARS deadline prohibiting Chinese-origin rare earth magnets, the Office of Strategic Capital has issued $1.2 billion in conditional loans to Phoenix Tailings ($500 million) and Energy Fuels ($725 million), supplemented by a 10-year public-private partnership with MP Materials that includes a 15% Pentagon equity stake, a $110/kg price floor, and 100% magnet offtake.

Name

U.S. Department of Defense

Legal name

U.S. Department of War

Website

https://defense.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1789

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The U.S. Department of War is the U.S. federal department that provides military forces to deter war and ensure national security, employing 3.5 million military and civilian personnel across six service branches. It is funded by congressional appropriations (FY 2027 request: $1.5 trillion) and procures weapons systems, deploys AI-enabled battle management (GenAI.mil, Agent Network), and delivers security assistance to allied nations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Defense Operations

NAICS

National Security (928110), National Security and International Affairs (9281), International Affairs (92812)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Military Operations & Force Readiness (BPAIAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Defense Infrastructure, Installations & Base Operations (BPAIAHAK), Integrated Air & Missile Defense (IAMD) Systems (IMABAOAD), Missile Defense & Strategic Deterrence (Nuclear Forces) (BPAIAHAG)

Keywords

• National defense operations
• Defense procurement contracting
• Security assistance programs
• Military force readiness
• Weapons systems development

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Federal Defense Budget: The Department of War is funded through annual congressional appropriations. The FY 2027 budget proposal requests $1.5 trillion for defense, including $67 billion for the Defense Department for Iran war costs and other expenses. Additional funding includes $21 billion for weapons munitions, $17.3 billion for operational costs, and $12.1 billion for classified programs.
2. Defense Production Act Investments: The department invests in domestic supply chains through the Defense Production Act and Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment programs, having invested over $6.7 billion since 2015 according to the Investment Intelligence Center.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The U.S. Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and ensure U.S. national security, including nuclear deterrence through the triad, conventional military superiority, cyber defense, and security cooperation with allied nations. It funds and procures advanced weapons systems (THAAD interceptors, directed energy weapons, hypersonic weapons, drones) through competitive contracts with defense primes, operates AI and quantum technologies internally, and delivers security assistance to allies through Foreign Military Sales.

Product overview

The Department of Defense operates internal AI and technology systems rather than commercial products. The primary offering is GenAI.mil, an enterprise AI platform serving the department's 3.5 million workforce with approximately 1.5 million daily users. The platform supports generative AI for administrative tasks, and integrates the Agent Network module for autonomous battlefield targeting. The Investment Intelligence Center provides public-facing visualization of defense industrial base investments. DoD also operates programs in quantum sensing for ISR, directed energy weapons, counter-drone capabilities, and post-quantum cryptography—all as internal programs rather than external products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GenAI.mil Internal enterprise generative AI platform providing AI capabilities to over 3 million defense civilian and military personnel, enabling report drafting, administrative tasks, and operational support.
• Agent Network AI-enabled battle management and targeting system built on the department's GenAI infrastructure, designed to transform battlefield targeting workflows for the U.S. Joint Force.
• Investment Intelligence Center Interactive public web platform mapping over $6.7 billion in Defense Production Act and Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment investments since 2015, with interactive visualizations including maps, Mekko charts, and keyword search tools.
• Quantum Sensing for ISR Multi-phase initiative to deploy mature quantum sensing and timing technologies for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, targeting aerial, surface, and subsurface missions.
• Directed Energy Weapons High-energy laser and high-power microwave weapon systems for naval, air, and ground missions, with FY 2027 budget allocation of over $2 billion for R&D.
• Drone Dominance Program $1.1 billion program to field 200,000 low-cost, domestically produced uncrewed aerial systems by 2027 for the U.S. military, including counter-UAS and offensive strike units.
• Post-Quantum Cryptography Strategy Strategic framework and operational transition program for moving military networks, systems, and high-impact applications to quantum-resistant encryption in line with NIST and NSA post-quantum standards.
• Foreign Military Sales and Security Assistance Government-to-government sales of U.S. defense equipment, sustainment services, training, and security assistance to allied and partner nations, administered through the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

Quantifiable outcome

• AI adoption increased 1,775% in six months, growing from 80,000 to 1.5 million daily users
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability9 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Intermap TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Intermap Technologies awarded a third subcontract through a defense prime contractor to support DoD research programs focused on positioning, navigation and timing in GPS-denied environments. The company provides proprietary global 3D terrain data, terrain intelligence and advanced analytics for next-generation navigation solutions for military, aerospace and autonomous systems.
• Lockheed MartincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026Lockheed Martin awarded $35.3 billion multi-year contract to quadruple production of THAAD interceptors at facilities in Dallas, Sunnyvale, California, Troy, Alabama, and Camden, Arkansas. The contract is part of DOD's Acquisition Transformation Strategy and supports the company's over $1 billion investment in a new Munitions Production Center in Troy, Alabama. Also includes agreement with GM's defense subsidiary to expand domestic manufacturing capacity.
• IACMI (Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026IACMI is expanding two DoD-funded workforce development programs—America's Cutting Edge (ACE) for CNC machine training and METAL for metallurgy casting and forging training—to 53 educational institutions by 2030. The expansion addresses a critical skills shortage with the industry needing an estimated 122,000 additional employees by 2028.
• TTM TechnologiesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026TTM Technologies opened a new 215,000-square-foot Ultra-High-Density Interconnect printed circuit board manufacturing facility in Syracuse, New York. The $130 million investment includes $30 million from the U.S. Department of War. The facility will produce advanced circuit boards for aerospace and defense applications including radar, missile defense, space-based sensors, and autonomous systems, creating up to 400 new engineering and manufacturing jobs.
• Governor Kathy Hochul (New York State)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026New York State provided $17 million in Excelsior Jobs Tax Credits, $5 million capital grant from the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, and $5 million capital grant to support TTM Technologies' $130 million UHDI facility in Syracuse.
• Huntington Ingalls IndustriesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026Huntington Ingalls Industries Mission Technologies Corp. awarded $417.7 million contract for maintenance and repair services for Navy aircraft carrier and amphibious ship elevators. The cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract will support elevator support unit maintenance performed inside and outside the continental U.S. and at forward deployed locations through June 2031.
• Massimo GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Massimo Group received confirmed purchase orders from the U.S. Department of War and U.S. Army for fleet vehicles to support facility operations, maintenance, logistics movement, and day-to-day fleet activities. Additional military vehicle purchases expected once units become available in July 2026.
• SpaceXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026SpaceX received $5.9 billion Space Force deal for rocket launches through 2029 and approximately $13.5 billion from the Department of Defense since 2003. The company is a key partner for satellite launches, with xAI's Grok AI model added to the Defense Department's GenAI.mil platform and used in Iran strike operations.
• OpenAIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026OpenAI's ChatGPT set to be available through the Pentagon's GenAI.mil platform in early July 2026, providing access to over 3 million defense civilian and military personnel. OpenAI's OpenAI for Government unit deployed a custom version of ChatGPT approved for unclassified work on authorized government cloud infrastructure, certified for controlled unclassified information at Impact Level 5.
• Google (Google Cloud)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Google provides Gemini for Government AI platform powering the GenAI.mil system. The platform runs on third-party AI tools and now has roughly 1.5 million daily users among the department's 3.5 million-strong workforce. Google also signed an agreement in April 2025 to provide AI for classified military tasks.
• NVIDIAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026NVIDIA is identified as a key AI technology partner for operational deployment across the Department of Defense's AI initiatives, supporting the massive AI adoption growth from 80,000 to 1.5 million daily users.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Microsoft is identified as a key AI technology partner for operational deployment across the Department of Defense's AI initiatives, supporting cloud infrastructure and AI capabilities.
• Amazon Web ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Amazon Web Services is identified as a key AI technology partner, with OpenAI's latest models including ChatGPT 5.4, GPT-5.5, and Codex now available on Amazon's Bedrock and GovCloud platforms for federal use.
• OraclecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Oracle is identified as a key AI technology partner for operational deployment across the Department of Defense's AI initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• L3Harris Technologies: Defense electronics and integration prime spanning secure comms, sensors, and the Axyv missile systems IPO (backed by $1B DoD investment) — comparable as a peer defense-electronics prime with deep DoD revenue concentration.
• BAE Systems: Largest European-headquartered defense prime (UK MoD as anchor) with major U.S. business — comparable as a peer prime contractor operating across air, land, naval, and electronic systems for allied defense ministries.
• Boeing Defense, Space & Security: Major DoD prime across fixed-wing aircraft (F-15, F/A-18), rotorcraft (CH-47, AH-64), and space — directly comparable as a top-tier prime contractor and Foreign Military Sales channel for AH-64E Apache sustainment.
• Lockheed Martin: Largest U.S. defense prime and primary contractor across missiles, missile defense (THAAD), aircraft, and space — directly comparable as the industrial executor of the DoD's modernization flywheel and recipient of the $35.3B THAAD multi-year contract.
• Northrop Grumman: Tier-1 defense prime across strategic systems, B-21 bomber, Sentinel ICBM, and space — comparable as a principal recipient of DoD modernization funding across nuclear triad and next-generation platforms.
• General Dynamics: Defense prime across land systems (Abrams, Stryker), naval shipbuilding, and combat systems — comparable as a top-five recipient of DoD procurement across ground and naval platforms.
• Raytheon (RTX): Major defense prime spanning missile systems (Patriot, AMRAAM), integrated air and missile defense, and Collins aerospace — comparable as a peer prime contractor on the IAMD and missile defense programs central to DoD's posture.

Emerging players

• Palantir Technologies: Provider of Maven Smart System — the AI-enabled battle management platform that drove 1,000+ target strikes in the first 24 hours of Operation Epic Fury — comparable as the technology partner at the core of DoD's AI-enabled targeting capability.
• Anduril Industries: Defense-tech prime spanning autonomous systems, counter-UAS, and AI-enabled command-and-control — comparable as a non-traditional vendor challenging legacy primes on autonomy and AI, the same vectors DoD is racing to scale.

Broad incumbents

• UK Ministry of Defence: Closest large allied national defense ministry — comparable as a peer government buyer/operator of military forces, joint exercises with U.S. Indo-Pacific and European commands, and a recipient of Foreign Military Sales.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DeptofWar
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@deptofwar
• Facebookfacebook.com/DepartmentofWar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deptofwar
• Instagraminstagram.com/deptofwar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments319 records

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Frequently asked questions about U.S. Department of Defense