Two divisions of General Dynamics are shifting their strategy to transform competitors into collaborators, focusing on shared innovation to expedite military technology development. This week, General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) inaugurated the Mission Emerge Center, a new 5,200 square-foot digital lab located near Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The facility aims to foster collaboration among various tech companies, including cloud providers, to create and demonstrate advanced military technology to Pentagon officials.
The Mission Emerge Center addresses a critical gap in showcasing new technology within the Pentagon. As Amy Gilliland, GDIT’s president, stated, “There isn’t the opportunity in the Pentagon to showcase this…to demonstrably show how it works.” The lab is designed to offer a sandbox environment where defense officials can see firsthand the capabilities of emerging technologies.
The development of the center took over a year and aligns with the Pentagon’s increasing demand for defense contractors to embrace more risk. During a speech on November 7, 2023, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the urgency of innovation, saying, “Our adversaries are not sitting idly by… they’re developing and delivering new capabilities at a rate that should be sobering to every American.”
GDIT is pivoting from a focus on traditional enterprise IT to becoming a pioneer in product development. This shift reflects a broader strategy that encourages strategic collaboration with companies that possess promising technologies. Gilliland explained that the directive for new leaders in the emerging tech division is clear: understand the needs of the Defense Department and seek out innovative partners.
“Those partnerships can ultimately end up being a teaming arrangement. They could be an acquisition in the future,” Gilliland noted. She highlighted that GDIT does not charge companies for access to the lab, establishing a collaborative environment where companies can contribute their research and development efforts.
Collaborative Spaces Foster Innovation
The concept of placing defense contractors in close proximity is not entirely new. However, the approach is gaining traction, especially as the Pentagon seeks to engage with smaller, non-traditional companies often supported by private investors. In a parallel initiative, General Dynamics Land Systems, which specializes in combat vehicles, plans to integrate into a co-working space tailored for startups and investors in Detroit.
“We actually just recently signed to become a full member of Newlab,” said Scott Taylor, who oversees business development for General Dynamics Land Systems. This change reflects a recognition of the challenges posed by stringent security protocols that can hinder the sharing of emerging commercial capabilities with the defense sector.
Last week, General Dynamics Land Systems tested the viability of Newlab by hosting an event for military leaders, investors, and drone companies to discuss pressing challenges faced by ground troops, such as battery life and resupply issues. “Senior leaders in the Army… have been encouraging industry to start self-organizing to solve the biggest problems,” Taylor remarked.
The inaugural event, titled the Maneuver Warfighter Industry Symposium, brought together various defense tech companies, including Anduril, Palantir, and Autonodyne. The intention is to continue these collaborative efforts into the next year.
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
While the enthusiasm for partnership is evident, Taylor acknowledged the complexities involved in aligning the interests of multiple companies. “You fill a room with 24 companies, and some of them are competitors… they’re not always forthright,” he explained. Despite these challenges, there is a shared goal among participants: to support the needs of the U.S. military and its allies.
The path to establishing an effective consortium remains uncertain. As Taylor noted, “Do we have the right team put together? Not yet. It’s still in development right now.” The quest for the right mix of companies that can meet the Pentagon’s requirements continues, illustrating the evolving landscape of defense technology innovation.
In summary, General Dynamics’ initiatives represent a forward-thinking approach to military technology development, emphasizing collaboration over competition. This strategy may redefine how defense contractors engage with emerging technology, potentially leading to faster and more innovative solutions for military needs.
