The U.S. Department of Defense plans to designate Palantir Technologies’ Maven Smart System as a formal “program of record,” securing multi-year funding for the AI-driven targeting platform utilized across U.S. military branches. The announcement coincided with comments from Louis Mosley, Palantir’s UK chief, who stated that accountability for the use of the technology in combat lies with military clients, not the company itself.
This move indicates a significant commitment to the Maven system, as formalizing its status will provide stable funding and resources for its development and operational use. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg highlighted in a March 9 memo, first reported by Reuters on March 20, that embedding Maven into military processes will equip warfighters with advanced tools necessary to detect and dominate adversaries.
Oversight of the Maven system will transition from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to the Pentagon’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office within 30 days. The U.S. Army will manage all future contracts related to Maven, with the program designation expected to take effect before the close of fiscal year 2026 in September. The initial contract for Maven was awarded in May 2024 for $480 million, which increased to a ceiling of $1.3 billion by May 2025, along with a separate $10 billion Army enterprise agreement.
Currently, the Maven system has over 20,000 active users and processes data from more than 150 sources, including satellite imagery and drone video. During Operation Epic Fury against Iran in late February, Maven reportedly helped process 1,000 targets within the first 24 hours. According to the Trump administration, the U.S. has conducted strikes on 11,000 targets in Iran since the conflict began on February 28, many of those targets identified with Maven’s aid.
However, Maven’s operational history has faced scrutiny. A Tomahawk missile strike on an elementary school in Minab on the first day of conflict resulted in at least 168 fatalities. Critics have raised concerns about the rapid decision-making involved in AI-targeting operations, particularly regarding reliability and verification. Analysts noted that the speed of Maven’s output leaves little time for thorough verification.
According to BBC, Mosley emphasized Palantir’s stance on responsibility during military operations, stating, “That’s not our role.” He acknowledged Maven’s utility in the conflict management but reiterated that accountability remains with military organizations utilizing the system.
