The U.S. Marine Corps, in partnership with Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the DoD Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO), and Army Research Lab, finalized a contract with Palantir Technologies Inc. for an enterprise Marine Corps license for Maven Smart System (MSS), a foundational, data-centric command and control (C2) platform. This contract provides all Marines – from tactical units within the Fleet Marine Force (FMF) to the Supporting Establishment – with access to the MSS platform, complete with embedded advanced AI capabilities and functionality across the spectrum of warfighting functions.
This partnership, finalized on August 15, 2025, is a key enabler for the Marine Corps’ ongoing modernization efforts, designed to deter conflict and, if deterrence fails, to defeat any adversary.
“As part of Force Design, we’ve made a deliberate effort to support maritime domain awareness and joint fires integration,” said Gen. Eric M. Smith, the Commandant of the Marine Corps. “This capability enhances intelligence, targeting, and battlespace awareness to aid in faster decision-making, allowing us to sense and make sense more quickly.”
MSS is a mission command application (MCA) and data integration platform that aggregates data across Service and Joint C2 technology stacks to share a live, synchronized view of the battlespace. MSS provides warfighters and decision-makers with real-time understanding in support of the overall Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) mission. This enables rapid sensor-to-shooter engagements through a fully digital workflow, leveraging automation and AI-driven tools for advanced target management.
Notably, the Marine Corps contracted this C2 platform Service solution within five months of receiving a request from the FMF, through collaborative efforts with the CDAO and DIU. This contract accelerates the Marine Corps’ scaling and adoption of critical CJADC2 capabilities, ensuring the nation’s expeditionary force remains relevant and ready in an era of software-defined warfare. The Marine Corps will continue to use this system in their Exercise Lifecycle – for example, the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), based out of Camp Pendleton, California, most recently leveraged the system at Exercise BALIKATAN 25 and during their re-certification as a Joint Task Force Headquarters.
“The Marine Corps is at the forefront of adopting technologies that make our Marines more agile, adaptable, and responsive to any threat,” said Lt. Gen. Jerry Carter, the Deputy Commandant for Information. “Maven Smart System adds significant value to our ability to support the Joint Force and shows how the Marine Corps is demonstrating its ability to adapt to, harness, and drive the changing character of war. We continue to look for opportunities to leverage AI and other emerging capabilities at speed and scale.”
FMF units will have expanded access to MSS licensing down to the tactical level within each Major Subordinate Command (MSC) to ensure Marines have the tools to fight and win. Supporting Establishment elements will use licensing to support training, integration testing, and reach-back support.
