The U.S. Department of Defense will formally adopt Palantir’s Maven artificial intelligence system as a core military system, according to a memo from Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg issued March 9th. The move solidifies Palantir’s role in U.S. Military operations and provides long-term funding for the weapons-targeting technology.
Feinberg’s memo, reviewed by Reuters, states that embedding Maven will provide warfighters “with the latest tools necessary to detect, deter, and dominate our adversaries in all domains.” The decision is slated to take effect by the end of the current fiscal year, in September.
Maven, initially launched in 2017 as a drone-imagery labeling project, has evolved into a full-scale command-and-control AI platform. It analyzes battlefield data from sources including satellites, drones, radars, sensors, and intelligence reports to identify threats, and targets. The system is already the primary AI operating system for the U.S. Military and has reportedly supported thousands of targeted strikes against Iran in recent weeks, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The Pentagon’s decision follows a dispute with Anthropic, an AI safety firm, which was recently deemed a supply chain risk. This rivalry cleared the path for Palantir to secure its position as the DoD’s core AI provider.
Oversight of Maven will shift from the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency to the Pentagon’s Chief Digital Artificial Intelligence Office within 30 days. Future contracting for the system will be handled by the Army, streamlining the procurement process and ensuring consistent funding.
Palantir has already secured significant contracts with the U.S. Government. In 2024, the company received a Pentagon contract worth up to $480 million, which was later expanded to $1.3 billion in 2025. The Army also awarded Palantir a deal in August 2025 consolidating 75 individual agreements into a single contract potentially worth up to $10 billion over the next ten years. This consolidation aims to accelerate the delivery of AI-driven military capabilities and reduce costs.
The adoption of Maven as a program of record will streamline its implementation across all branches of the military. The system currently has “tens of thousands” of users across the armed forces.
