What This Means for You
- The War Department is integrating ChatGPT into its enterprise AI platform, making advanced AI tools available to 3 million personnel.
- Nearly $35 million in previously awarded investments will strengthen supply chains for defense parts, microdisplays, and advanced composites.
- The Department realigned key arms transfer and security agencies to accelerate defense sales and industrial base coordination.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of War announced a series of technology, industrial base, and organizational changes last week aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence adoption, strengthening domestic manufacturing, and restructuring arms transfer oversight.
ChatGPT Integrated Into Military AI Platform
On February 9, the Department announced a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into GenAI.mil, its enterprise artificial intelligence platform.
GenAI.mil is the Department’s centralized environment for secure AI applications. Officials said the platform has surpassed one million unique users since deployment two months ago and has maintained continuous system availability.
The integration will make large language model capabilities available to approximately 3 million Department personnel. A large language model is an AI system trained to understand and generate human-like text to assist with analysis, drafting, and research.
The initiative is part of the Department’s AI Acceleration Strategy and aligns with the White House AI Action Plan, according to the announcement.
$35 Million in Industrial Base Investments
The Department also announced multiple investments through the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program, known as IBAS. The program supports domestic manufacturing capacity for defense-critical components.
Nearly $1.8 million was awarded to the Great Plains Innovation Network in Manhattan, Kansas, to reverse engineer obsolete defense parts lacking technical documentation. Reverse engineering in this context means recreating technical data packages — such as bills of materials and computer-aided design models — so parts can be manufactured competitively.
On February 12, the Department detailed two previously awarded investments totaling $24.5 million to Kopin Corporation and Tectus Corporation to develop domestic manufacturing processes for MicroLED displays. MicroLED technology is used in advanced heads-up displays, night vision systems, and other defense applications requiring high brightness and durability.
On February 13, officials announced a five-year, $9.2 million contract with LIFT, a Manufacturing USA Innovation Institute in Detroit, to improve manufacturing processes for ceramic matrix composites. Ceramic matrix composites are high-temperature materials used in jet engines, stealth aircraft, and hypersonic systems.
Since 2014, the Innovation Capability and Modernization Office has invested more than $2.6 billion in over 200 projects to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity.
Realignment of Defense Sales Oversight
On February 10, the Department announced the realignment of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and the Defense Technology Security Administration under the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment.
The move consolidates oversight of acquisition, industrial base policy, security cooperation, and arms transfer functions. Officials said the goal is to improve efficiency and accelerate the delivery of defense systems to allied nations.
The change supports the National Defense Strategy and is intended to integrate technology security considerations earlier in the acquisition process.
Regulatory Overhaul Announced
On February 13, the Department released a letter announcing Phase 1 class deviations under what it calls the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul. FAR refers to the Federal Acquisition Regulation, the primary rulebook governing how the federal government buys goods and services.
A class deviation allows temporary modification of certain regulatory requirements while broader reforms are developed.
The Department is seeking industry input for Phase 2 reforms. The full letter is available at:
https://media.defense.gov/2026/Feb/13/2003875628/-1/-1/1/LETTER-TO-DEFENSE-INDUSTRIAL-BASE-AND-ACQUISITION-STAKEHOLDERS-SEEKING-REVOLUTIONARY-FAR-OVERHAUL-PHASE-2-INPUT.PDF
Additional information is available at:
https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfars_far_overhaul_class_deviations.html
Nuclear Reactor Deployment Planned
Separately, the Department announced a partnership with the Department of Energy and Valar Atomics to transport a next-generation nuclear reactor from California to Utah on February 15 for testing at the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab.
The reactor will be flown by C-17 aircraft to Hill Air Force Base before transport to the test site.
Officials said the effort is intended to advance energy resilience and strengthen national security infrastructure. A press conference is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time at Hill Air Force Base and will be livestreamed at war.gov.
The announcements collectively reflect ongoing efforts by the Department to modernize technology adoption, streamline acquisition, and reinforce domestic manufacturing capacity supporting national defense.
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