Ondas and Mistral Merge, Anthropic AI in Pentagon's Plans, Anduril's $20B Army Contract - Defense AI Brief #33
March 16, 2026 -
Defense AI Brief
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Ondas Inc. has entered a merger agreement with Mistral Inc., aiming to boost its involvement in U.S. Department of Defense programs and enhance its autonomous systems capabilities. Meanwhile, employees from OpenAI and Google DeepMind have filed a statement in support of Anthropic in its legal battle against the U.S. Defense Department, challenging the department's classification of the AI firm as a supply-chain risk.
In other news, the Prime Ministers of Canada and Australia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaboration on AI safety, alongside initiatives to boost investment and trade. Additionally, XTEND, a subsidiary of JFB Construction Holdings, has launched an $8 million tactical drone delivery service under a defense contract with a Middle Eastern government, with potential expansion to $25 million.
Welcome to this week's edition of Defense AI Brief.
Ondas Inc. has entered a merger agreement with Mistral Inc., aiming to boost its involvement in U.S. Department of Defense programs and enhance its autonomous systems capabilities. Meanwhile, employees from OpenAI and Google DeepMind have filed a statement in support of Anthropic in its legal battle against the U.S. Defense Department, challenging the department's classification of the AI firm as a supply-chain risk.
In other news, the Prime Ministers of Canada and Australia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaboration on AI safety, alongside initiatives to boost investment and trade. Additionally, XTEND, a subsidiary of JFB Construction Holdings, has launched an $8 million tactical drone delivery service under a defense contract with a Middle Eastern government, with potential expansion to $25 million.
Ondas Inc. Merges with Mistral Inc. to Boost Defense Role
Ondas Inc. has announced a merger with Mistral Inc., aiming to enhance its participation in U.S. Department of Defense programs and improve capabilities in autonomous systems. Read more
OpenAI and Google Employees Back Anthropic in Defense Dept. Lawsuit
Employees from OpenAI and Google DeepMind have filed a statement in support of Anthropic in its legal battle against the U.S. Defense Department, challenging the department's designation of the AI firm as a supply-chain risk. Read more
Canada and Australia Enhance AI Partnership
Prime Ministers of Canada and Australia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on AI Safety to strengthen collaboration in AI, critical minerals, and defense. Read more
XTEND Secures $8M Drone Delivery Contract in Middle East
XTEND, a subsidiary of JFB Construction Holdings, has launched a tactical drone delivery service in the Middle East under an $8 million defense contract. The agreement includes an initial order for 5,000 systems, with potential expansion to $25 million. Read more
Pentagon May Extend Use of Anthropic AI Tools
The Pentagon may allow continued use of Anthropic's AI tools beyond a planned six-month phase-out if they are critical for national security, as per an internal memo. Read more
Scout Ventures Raises $125 Million for AI Fund
Scout Ventures, a venture capital firm, has closed its Fund V with $125 million to invest in AI and other technologies for national security. Read more
Accrete AI and Ocient Partner for National Security AI
On March 12, 2026, Accrete AI and Ocient announced a partnership to enhance AI capabilities for national security by integrating their technologies to manage large datasets more effectively. Read more
U.S. Army Awards $20 Billion Contract to Anduril
The U.S. Army has entered a 10-year contract with Anduril for defense technology, potentially valued at $20 billion, consolidating over 120 procurement actions. Read more
U.S. Military Uses Anthropic's AI for Iran Strategy
The U.S. military is employing Anthropic's Claude AI and Palantir software for strategic planning in Iran, prompting discussions on AI oversight in military contexts. Read more
Palantir, Ondas, and World View Develop AI ISR Platform
Palantir Technologies has teamed up with Ondas Inc. and World View Enterprises to create an AI-enabled platform for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). This collaboration aims to enhance defense and security operations by integrating AI with autonomous and stratospheric systems. Read more
Ukraine Offers Battlefield Data for AI Training
Ukraine has launched a program allowing startups to use real battlefield data to train AI, focusing on autonomous drones and decision-support systems. Read more
Hanwha Aerospace and Krafton Collaborate on Defense AI
South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace and Krafton have partnered to develop Physical AI technology for military applications, combining defense and gaming simulation expertise. Read more
Black Forest Systems Receives $400K for Drone Platform
Black Forest Systems in Kyiv has secured $400,000 from Front Ventures and Hede Capital Partners AB to advance its SHADOX infantry drone platform. Read more
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