

By Daniel Smoot, Office of Army prize Competitions and Army SBIR Program
WASHINGTON – Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and Ammunition leveraged $48 million in U.S. Army Small Business Innovation Research funding to modernize munitions manufacturing processes that date back to World War II.
JPEO A&A understands the critical role small and nontraditional businesses play in solving the Army’s toughest mission challenges. To capitalize on industry’s advanced manufacturing technologies, JPEO A&A partnered with the U.S. Army SBIR Program’s artificial intelligence and machine learning portfolio to improve necessary munition production rates and performance.
Over the past two fiscal years, the conflict in Ukraine drove an increase in munitions demand. To respond to Russian threats and provide aid to Ukraine, JPEO A&A and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology-led U.S. Army SBIR Program invested $48 million in 29 small businesses with AI solutions.
“JPEO A&A, and the larger armaments industry, leveraged Army SBIR dollars to modernize critical munitions manufacturing to meet the enormous demand stemming from Russia’s war in Ukraine,” said Blaise Zandoli, Army SBIR Program’s Portfolio Manager for AI/ML and Clean Tech. “With small AI/ML investments, it is achieving results and responding to foreign developments while maintaining the U.S.’ own operational and training supply.”
AI/ML increases the Army’s speed and agility when responding to emerging threats. While AI-based manufacturing does not eliminate manpower, these advanced technologies aid workers with munitions inspections — minimizing production-based bottlenecks by allowing inspectors to maintain and oversee multiple production lines during higher demand periods.
With the U.S.’ ongoing support to Ukraine, and the need to maintain a national munitions stockpile, it’s increasingly necessary to use innovative AI solutions to tackle production challenges.
View the full U.S. Army SBIR|JPEO A&A Munitions Manufacturing Spotlight here.
About the Army SBIR Program
The Army SBIR Program offers Phase I contract opportunities to small and nontraditional vendors exhibiting commercial viability, feasibility and technical merit. The program provides Phase II and Direct to Phase II contracts to vendors with mature technologies that already meet Phase I qualifications.
Vendors received access to technical, acquisition and operational Army subject matter experts. These specialists offer insights on the Army’s critical needs while guiding them from within the Army research and development ecosystem. Selectees capitalize on this by coordinating with technical points of contact that serve as resources for vendors as they mature their solutions for insertion into Army acquisition programs.
The Army SBIR Program releases contract opportunities on an ad-hoc basis to respond to current and expected Soldier needs. The program will continue to promote new contract releases via solicitation announcements and email. We encourage you to follow Army SBIR|STTR on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn for the latest program announcements, updates and contract opportunities.
ASA(ALT) leverages technologies to provide Soldiers a decisive advantage in any environment by developing, acquiring, fielding and sustaining the world’s finest equipment and services. For more information, visit the ASA(ALT) web page and follow @ArmyASAALT.
Please contact the SBIR mailbox if you have any questions.