The US Navy published an updated technology wish list for the next several years. It covers applied AI, quantum information science, advanced networking, electromagnetic spectrum operations, and digital engineering. The list is not a funding commitment and may change based on needs. The Navy now prefers co-investing alongside venture capital rather than funding early research itself. It mostly buys from Series D through F companies. Recent purchases include a $562 million autonomous refueling drone contract. The Navy also bought edge compute hardware, inspection robots, and machine learning pipeline tools. Buying decisions run through a small source selection committee. The list aims to guide founders and investors on where to focus development.
What changed
The Navy previously funded its own early-stage research to cover seed through Series B.
What it unlocks
Founders and investors can align product development with the Navy’s stated technology priorities.
- $150 billion annual Navy spending
- $562 million MQ-25 Stingray contract
Sources