FY 2025 featured some of the largest defense AI contracts awarded by the federal government in recent memory. The top 10 awards had a cumulative value of $38.3 billion, according to GovCon Daily research.
These awards demonstrate a larger strategic shift in the Department of War. Rather than relying exclusively on traditional defense primes, the DOW is now explicitly reaching for nontraditional firms with broad commercial pedigree. This is changing how deals are structured, featuring faster cycles, different acquisition vehicles and more collaboration across firms.
Discover the latest defense AI business opportunities at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29! Hear directly from leading federal officials and industry experts at our Powering AI at Mission Scale: Energy, Compute and Infrastructure for Defense Innovation panel discussion. Secure your seat for this elite GovCon event today!
For GovCon executives, this means paying more attention to long-term planning and strategic agility. Either position yourself to integrate or partner, or risk being left behind as the DOW’s procurement landscape evolves.
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What Is Defense AI?
Leveraging rapidly advancing AI for military use is a top priority for the DOW entering 2026. While most attention focuses on AI’s role in combat, the DOW wants to use AI to improve its business operations, including finance, acquisition, IT and more, according to the Brookings Institute.
Let’s dive into the five biggest defense AI contracts awarded in 2025.
1. What Is the PROTECTS Cybersecurity Blanket Purchase Agreement?
Amount: $20 billion
Date awarded: March 25, 2025
Organization: Department of Treasury
Recipients: 1CyberForce, Delviom, Electrosoft Services, Maveris, Obsidian Global, Pueo Business Solutions, PUNCH Cyber, ShorePoint, Valiant Solutions, Zermount
The biggest defense AI contract award in government in FY 2025 was the massive $20 billion Providing Treasury Enterprise Cybersecurity Technology and Services, or PROTECTS, cybersecurity blanket purchase agreement.
PROTECTS enables the Treasury and its departments and bureaus to access the recipients for cybersecurity services and solutions, bolstering the protection of the department’s data and assets. Featuring a one-year base ordering period and seven one-year option periods, PROTECTS also facilitates innovation and creates cost savings for the Treasury.
1CyberForce is a small-business mentor-protégé joint venture between ECS and Yakshna Solutions, was named to the PROTECTS BPA. With PROTECTS, ECS is using its broad expertise in federal and commercial security, managed security solutions, vulnerability and incident authority and improved adversary-focused operations to progress the Treasury’s security posture.
“This award is a significant milestone for our joint venture. It showcases our unmatched cybersecurity expertise and innovative, AI-enabled cybersecurity solutions,” said John Heneghan, ECS president and a four-time Wash100 winner.
2. $10B Army Commercial Software Award to Palantir
Amount: Potentially $10 billion
Date awarded: July 31, 2025
Organization: U.S. Army
Recipient: Palantir
The Army in August awarded Palantir an enterprise agreement, or EA, worth as much as $10 billion for commercial software. The EA permits the acquisition of data integration, analytics and AI services.
The contracting vehicle also provides the federal government with volume-based discounts for DOW subagencies in addition to the Army. It consolidates 75 awards into a single arrangement to provide necessary capabilities as fast as possible while waiving contract and reseller pass-through fees.
Defense technology executives cannot afford to miss the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29. It’s designed just for you! Get actionable business intelligence on AI directly from Emil Michael, under secretary of defense for research and engineering and acting director of the Defense Innovation Unit. Spark collaborations with other GovCon titans and score that big contract. Sign up now!
3. How Much Is Booz Allen’s CWMD Task Order?
Amount: Potentially $1.6 billion
Date awarded: August 14, 2025
Organizations: Defense Intelligence Agency and Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Recipient: Booz Allen
Booz Allen secured a contract potentially worth as much as $1.6 billion when it received a Defense Intelligence Agency award in August for counter weapons of mass destruction, or CWMD, intelligence analysis.
As part of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Analysis, Exploitation and Data Science Support, or WAEDS, task order, Booz Allen will leverage advanced technology and specialized technical skillsets in WMD, data science and language-enabled analysis to contribute to transformative counter-WMD missions across the world.
Booz Allen will also use its skills in missile systems, cyber and other advanced technology capabilities to bolster U.S. national security under WAEDS, which backs DIA’s Defense Counterproliferation Office and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
“This win is the latest example of how Booz Allen is applying advanced technology to solve the nation’s most complicated challenges and make America safer,” said Lisa Bishop, a senior vice president in Booz Allen’s national security business.
4. What Is GDIT’s EMITSA Contract?
Amount: $1.3 billion
Date awarded: October 2, 2025
Organization: U.S. Army
Recipient: GDIT
General Dynamics Information Technology in September landed the $1.3 billion Enterprise Mission Information Technology Services Award. This is a contract to secure and modernize IT platforms for U.S. Army Europe and Africa and includes a nearly half-year transition period followed by seven option years.
Under the task order, GDIT will shore up U.S. Army Europe and Africa’s network infrastructure, improve its mission partner network and integrate advanced cybersecurity strategies to protect critical systems.
“We look forward to continuing to deliver a modern digital backbone that will enable our soldiers and commanders to stay connected, coordinate seamlessly with mission partners and act decisively on the battlefield,” said Brian Sheridan, GDIT senior vice president for defense.
5. Exiger $919M SCRIPTS BPA
Amount: Potentially $919 million
Date awarded: April 8, 2025
Organization: GSA
Recipient: Exiger
Exiger in late March landed a position on the potential $919 million Supply Chain Risk Illumination Professional Tools and Services, or SCRIPS, BPA. This contract, awarded by the General Services Administration, allows the procurement of supply chain risk illumination capabilities and analytic support services.
Through the SCRIPTS BPA, the DOW and other federal agencies will be able to tap these tools for cyber hygiene, vendor vetting and other capabilities to help evaluate supplier risks as they happen. The BPA is sponsored by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.
“DOW has, once again, recognized the differentiated strength of our award-winning supply chain AI, selecting Exiger as the highest-ranked unrestricted prime awardee in the SCRIPTS BPA evaluation,” said Exiger President Carrie Wibben Kaupp. Exiger is a lead platinum sponsor of the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29. Get your ticket today!
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