WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of War has launched an artificial intelligence system designed to speed the conversion of intelligence into operational options for military commanders, advancing a broader push to deploy AI across battle management, decision support and targeting.
The initiative, called Agent Network, is the second Pace-Setting Project under the department’s AI Acceleration Strategy and is led by the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office.
The project is being developed in partnership with U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Southern Command and U.S. European Command, reflecting the department’s effort to field AI-enabled decision tools across multiple combatant commands.
Agent Network uses AI-enabled agents to scan defense intelligence and operational systems continuously and present findings as options for commanders within seconds, according to the department.
The department emphasized that the system does not autonomously select or strike targets and that commanders remain responsible for all targeting decisions.
The capability is intended to shorten the time between identifying a battlefield development and presenting commanders with actionable options, a process that has traditionally required more manual review and coordination.
“Agent Network delivers on the Department’s commitment to field AI capabilities with speed and accountability,” said Cameron Stanley, the department’s chief digital and AI officer. He described the system as “warfighting AI at operational scale.”
The project builds on command-and-control work by Palantir Technologies through the Maven Smart System program and includes Lumbra, a company led by veteran warfighters and intelligence professionals, to support AI orchestration on government systems.
The department said Agent Network will undergo testing, operational evaluation and oversight as it is developed and fielded.
The launch comes as the U.S. military accelerates efforts to incorporate AI into command systems while facing scrutiny over how automated tools are used in targeting and other lethal decision-making processes.
The department framed the system as a way to improve speed and precision while preserving human judgment and compliance with U.S. legal and ethical obligations.
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