Palantir's Maven Smart System has been designated a formal "program of record" by the U.S. Department of Defense, Reuters reported on March 20, citing a memo from Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg sent to Pentagon leaders.

The designation is a significant shift in how the military treats AI. A program of record is an official DoD procurement status that provides stable, long-term funding rather than relying on short-term or project-specific contracts. According to the memo, the designation will "provide the stable funding and resourcing necessary" for Maven's ongoing development and integration into military operations.

What This Changes

Previously, Maven operated under a series of individual contracts — meaning each deal had to be re-competed and renewed. Program of record status changes that: Maven is now embedded in the DoD's formal long-term planning alongside hardware systems like aircraft and weapons platforms.

Oversight of Maven shifts to the Pentagon's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO), consolidating the system's role across all military branches — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Space Force.

Maven's Battlefield Role

Maven Smart System is Palantir's AI-powered targeting and battlefield coordination platform. The DoD began evaluating Maven as a battlefield AI system in 2023 and has steadily expanded its use since. The CDAO noted at AIPCon 9 earlier this month that Maven was "deploying across the entire department."

The program of record decision effectively makes Palantir's AI the backbone of U.S. military data and targeting infrastructure — one of the most consequential AI procurement decisions in defense history.