As artificial intelligence and autonomous technologies increasingly find their place in the defense industry, Applied Intuition has made an important move. This Silicon Valley-based software company announced that it has acquired EpiSci, which cooperates with the Pentagon and has technology that enables the integration of artificial intelligence in military platforms. This acquisition will pave the way for Applied Intuition to go beyond its land-based autonomous technologies and become active in the air, sea and space fields.
Strategic Importance of EpiSci
Founded in 2012, EpiSci is known as a major player in the defense space. The company develops AI software for a variety of military applications, including surface warfare, maritime surveillance, space-based missile tracking satellites, and unmanned aircraft. Last year, the Air Force tested AI-enabled air operations by using EpiSci’s software to conduct aerial combat between an F-16 fighter jet and the experimental X-62A VISTA. EpiSci’s experience in this field will strengthen Applied Intuition’s portfolio and expand the company’s capabilities in defense technologies.
Expansion of Applied Intuition's Portfolio
Applied Intuition has been a company that has focused largely on land systems, and has pioneered the development of autonomous land vehicles and systems in particular. The company has worked on simulation, verification and data management software to date, providing solutions for applications in many sectors such as automotive, transportation and agriculture. However, with the acquisition of EpiSci, Applied will have the opportunity to expand its previously land-focused portfolio into new areas such as air, sea and space. “We thought that the areas where we could increase our portfolio were in the air, sea and space,” said Qasar Younis, CEO of the company, in defense of this expansion strategy.
Strong Collaboration with the Pentagon
Applied Intuition’s success in the defense space is built on strong partnerships with the Pentagon. In 2022, the Army and Defense Innovation Agency selected Applied to develop and test autonomous software for the Robotic Fighting Vehicle program. Last month, the Pentagon’s Office of Digital and Artificial Intelligence awarded the company a $171 million manufacturing contract for its software development and test platform. These developments provide a solid foundation for Applied Intuition’s future growth opportunities in the defense industry.
Potential Growth in the Autonomy Market
Jason Brown, general manager of defense for Applied Intuition, says the Department of Defense is increasingly interested in unmanned systems, particularly low-cost drones. The Pentagon’s Replicator initiative aims to produce thousands of drones, and this will drive significant growth in the autonomy market. This growth will create significant opportunities not only for drone manufacturers but also for companies like Applied Intuition and EpiSci, which can equip old and new military systems with autonomy software. “This is a huge market that is about to explode, and we want to take advantage of all of these opportunities,” Brown says.
Applied Intuition’s acquisition of EpiSci is a step that will further strengthen the impact of AI and autonomous technologies in the defense sector. This acquisition will not only make existing military systems more effective, but will also facilitate the integration of autonomous systems in next-generation air, sea and space platforms. Applied Intuition’s growth strategy in the defense sector could lead to major transformation in the coming years and strengthen the company’s position in the sector.
