US Navy names five technology priorities for procurement — TechCrunch
The US Navy has updated its list of technology areas it plans to consider in procurement over the coming years. Justin Fanelli, the chief technology officer of the US Department of the Navy, said the department aims to give venture investors clearer signals about its needs so that private capital can help companies bring products to readiness.
As TechCrunch reports, the new list of priorities was reviewed by a small group of unnamed venture investors before publication. The document is not a funding commitment and does not rank individual programs. It also notes that priorities may change depending on current and long-term needs.
Betting on mature companies
According to Fanelli, the total annual volume of US Navy procurement amounts to about $150 billion, but this sum is not equivalent to direct investments in companies’ capital. Most spending will continue through traditional channels, but the department wants to make more active use of co-investment alongside private investors.
Fanelli explained that the Navy primarily buys solutions from companies at the Series D–F stages. Previously, the department itself supported early-stage research, from seed funding through Series B. It now expects commercial investors to assume this role to a large extent, while the published technology guidelines will give them a clearer basis for decisions.
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Artificial intelligence, quantum solutions and networks
The five key areas include applied artificial intelligence: machine learning, software with agentic capabilities, combining data from sensors, targeting support, autonomous system behavior, and cyber operations. The second priority is quantum information science, including its use for navigation, secure communications, and cryptography.
The Navy also identified advanced networks for secure data transmission under unstable or intermittent connectivity, technologies for operating in the electromagnetic spectrum, and digital engineering with systems interoperability as priorities. The latter area includes open APIs, model-based systems engineering, and zero-trust architecture.
Among recent procurements, Fanelli mentioned a $562 million contract for the MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aerial refueling aircraft, which is intended to increase the range of crewed fighter jets operating from aircraft carriers. The Navy is also procuring Armada edge-computing equipment, using Gecko Robotics for inspections, and Domino Data Lab for its machine-learning pipeline. According to the official, replacing a delayed shipboard camera system with commercial cameras using Applied Intuition software reduced the timeline by about four years.
