The U.S. Army is launching a new initiative called Fuze, aiming to transform how the service invests in technology by adopting strategies similar to those used by Silicon Valley venture capital firms. This initiative is expected to expedite procurement timelines and evaluate if the rapid pace of innovation in Silicon Valley can be integrated with the large-scale operations of the Pentagon.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll emphasized that Fuze is an invitation for innovators, highlighting its role in investing and scaling promising technological capabilities to effectively bridge the so-called “valley of death” in technology development. Typically, traditional procurement processes begin with a specific problem defined by the Army, after which a company is appointed to find a solution. In contrast, Fuze allows the Army to seek out technology that can help redefine their challenges, as explained by Chris Manning, the Army’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology.
Mirroring the investment strategies of venture capital firms, the Army is prepared to accept a level of risk by making numerous investments in emerging tech companies, with the recognition that not all will achieve the desired maturity. Matt Willis, the Fuze program director, mentioned that while some technologies may not reach full maturity, others could significantly impact soldiers.
The Fuze program consolidates four current funding streams—XTech prize competitions, small-business funding, tech maturation, and manufacturing technology—amounting to approximately $750 million for fiscal year 2025. The initiative will kick off with an XTech Disrupt live pitch competition in partnership with Y Combinator at the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual conference next month in Washington.
The focus areas for the competition encompass electronic warfare, unmanned aircraft systems, counter-UAS technologies, and energy resiliency. The prize pool is set at $500,000, and successful technologies will be implemented directly in the hands of soldiers for real-world evaluations.
Despite ongoing efforts over the past decade to improve acquisition speed, the Army has faced significant cultural and bureaucratic challenges. Brandon Pugh, the Army’s cyber adviser, stated that transforming the acquisition process is crucial for ensuring soldiers have access to the technologies they need on the battlefield. The goal is to reduce acquisition timelines drastically, aiming to reach an acquisition pathway within 10 days and prototype delivery to an Army unit within 30 to 45 days.
Pugh noted the necessity for quick acquisition and rapid iteration in quickly evolving fields like electronic warfare to avoid falling behind, underscoring the urgency of the Fuze initiative. Army officials have asserted that Fuze is more than just a rebranding but a cohesive strategy to streamline the innovation process from a strategic, operational, and execution standpoint.
In summary, the overarching aim of the Army through Fuze is to procure the best technologies swiftly to strengthen its capabilities. Jen Judson, an award-winning journalist for Defense News, reported on this transformative initiative.
