Palantir Technologies (NYSE: PLTR) has received a contract extension valued at $229 million to continue working with the Army Research Laboratory on the experimentation and implementation of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications across the U.S. military.
The new award is an addendum to the $99.9 million contract announced in July and seeks to expand the utilization of AI/ML tools at all service branches, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and special forces, the company said Thursday.
Akash Jain, president of Plantir’s U.S. government business, said the extended agreement reflects the Department of Defense’s commitment to keeping its technology competitively up-to-date and furnishing warfighters with an advanced toolkit.
In practice, DOD constituents can use Palantir’s open data standard software to test and assess new AI and ML technologies in consequential situations and settings. The programs are reportedly easily compatible with mutual vendors and accessible to warfighters in the field.
Sanctioned via the contract, Palantir’s applications are additionally intended to benefit not only warfighters but also data science workers and commercial AI businesses that are involved in DOD-led AI and ML research and development efforts.
Shannon Clark, senior vice president of innovation for the federal division at Palantir, noted the company’s partnership with the ARL assists the defense community to take on pressing national security threats.
AI and operational data efforts under the partnership have been ongoing for the last four years, with Palantir as the organization of choice to oversee integration, facilitation and execution of mission data and AI model training in the armed services, unified combatant commands and special operations.
