NATO buys AI-powered military system from Palantir

NATO has purchased an artificial intelligence-based military system from Palantir, the US software company headed by Donald Trump supporter Peter Thiel and with strong Pentagon connections.

The alliance’s choice comes at a time of increased concern among European members about a possible US withdrawal, following Trump’s threat to stop protecting the continent unless capitals significantly increase defense spending.

NATO is also racing to keep pace with the development of artificial intelligence military capabilities by rivals such as China. According to the alliance’s statement on Monday, Palantir’s Maven Smart System (MSS NATO) uses generative artificial intelligence, machine learning, and large language models to provide “commanders with a secure, shared operational capability” and will be used to support NATO operations.

Such “battlefield management systems” allow teams of 20-50 soldiers to do the work of reviewing battlefield data that previously required teams of hundreds or even thousands of personnel in recent conflicts such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

Noah Sylvia, an analyst at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a London-based think tank, told the Financial Times (FT), “It can replace all those teams doing quite boring tasks.”

Sylvia noted that France had developed “Artemis,” which he described as “not a competitor but a domestic alternative” to Palantir’s Maven system, to avoid dependence on the US.

NATO is moving quickly to enhance its defense technology capabilities. According to the alliance, the completion of this contract, which was “one of the fastest contracts in NATO history,” took only six months, and the system is expected to be operational within the next 30 days.

Sylvia said, “To have it procured in six months is insane by defense standards. Software usually takes years to procure, certify, and then deploy, and by that time, it’s usually out of date.”

NATO announced that this acquisition, which “demonstrates a strong and lasting partnership between the North American and European technology base,” was completed last month. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is likely to be one of Palantir’s most significant defense contracts this year.

Thiel, one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent figures, was a leading supporter of Trump’s initial presidential candidacy in 2016 and played a major role in the selection of JD Vance, his vice president, as Trump’s vice-presidential candidate. Thiel is a pioneer of the “techno-libertarian” group in Silicon Valley and is known for his anti-democratic views.

According to federal records, Palantir has won more than $2.7 billion in US government contracts since 2009, with more than $1.3 billion of that from the Department of Defense. Palantir’s market capitalization has surpassed the total of the Pentagon’s traditional top 5 contractors.

The company’s shares have increased by more than 300% in the last 12 months, as investors expect the company to benefit from the Trump administration’s defense spending, as well as commercial customers using artificial intelligence systems.

The US Army is also using its own version of Palantir’s Maven technology and signed a five-year contract for $99.8 million for this technology last September.

A similar system was also used in Ukraine. Maven is used to combine satellite imagery with other battlefield intelligence sources, scan targets, and use machine learning to accelerate attacks.

The Pentagon’s Project Maven system dates back to 2017, when Google began using its technology. Google later withdrew from the program in 2018 after thousands of its employees protested the use of artificial intelligence in warfare.

Palantir provides NATO with a customized version of Maven that provides a platform where other software applications and data sources can be integrated.

Palantir’s senior advisor Shon Manasco said, “We are proud to support NATO’s effort to enhance its deterrence by establishing an AI-backed warfighting platform. This partnership underscores the alliance’s commitment to fearlessly lead in technological innovation.”

NATO said that MSS NATO will “enhance intelligence fusion, targeting, battlefield awareness, operational planning, and decision-making processes.”

General Markus Laubenthal, Chief of Staff at NATO’s military headquarters Shape [Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe] in Belgium, said, “ACO [Allied Command Operations] is at the forefront of embracing technologies that make NATO more agile, adaptable, and responsive to emerging threats.”

Laubenthal added that innovation is the foundation of NATO’s warfighting capability.

The commander also praised MSS NATO for its capacity to “leverage complex data, accelerate decision-making,” and add “real operational value.”