Army Awards webAI $14.5M to Put Resilient AI on Soldiers' Devices Under Project ARIA

A firm-fixed-price award tasks webAI Public Sector to run state-of-the-art AI on the hardware soldiers already carry and connect those devices through webAI's Intelligence Delivery Network, operating without the cloud and over contested, intermittent networks.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army has awarded webAI Public Sector, Inc. a firm-fixed-price contract to deliver sovereign, resilient artificial intelligence to the tactical edge. This contract falls under Project ARIA, the Army Rapid Implementation of Artificial Intelligence initiative built to field practical AI in months rather than years. Army Contracting Command–Aberdeen Proving Ground issued the $14.5 million award (contract W15P7T26CA005). Specifically, webAI will equip soldiers with advanced AI where they actually operate, including where the cloud is unreachable and the network is denied, disrupted, intermittent and limited (DDIL).

webAI enables organizations to deploy specialized AI models around their own data, people and operations, running on infrastructure they control. For the Army, its software runs directly on the laptops, handhelds and mounted compute that troops already field. To work as a team, those devices connect through webAI's Intelligence Delivery Network (IDN) rather than the cloud, operating uninterrupted through DDIL conditions that would stall traditional AI operations. This on-device infrastructure allows webAI's models to function even with no connection at all, ensuring troops can carry out their mission in the most remote and contested environments.

"If soldiers are at risk of losing access to AI the moment cloud connection drops or communications jam, their safety and the mission's success are compromised," said Dr. Jason Rathje, President of webAI Public Sector. "Information and intelligence give our warfighters the upper hand in combat, which is why we are working with the Army to install our software in the field as rapidly as possible."

webAI's IDN provides system-wide connectivity by operating across enterprise cloud, tactical servers, mounted compute, handhelds, autonomous platforms and other edge devices. Because software is installed and run locally on these devices, every node keeps full local functionality and decision authority regardless of connectivity. Then, when links are available, nodes securely discover peers and exchange data, AI models and a common operating picture. The result is resilient and collaborative intelligence across the force.

"The Army cannot afford to treat artificial intelligence as a capability confined to laboratories or enterprise clouds," said Col. John Oliver, Deputy Undersecretary of the Army Initiatives Group Chief. "Through Project ARIA, we are moving with urgency to partner with nontraditional defense companies and deliver resilient, cutting-edge technology directly to our soldiers at the tactical edge in months, not years."

Note: Discussion of webAI's activities with the U.S. Army does not imply or signify federal endorsement or preferential treatment.

About webAI and webAI Public Sector

webAI is building collaborative intelligence: a private, local-first approach to AI that enables individuals and organizations to create, own and deploy specialized models across their devices and environments. These models run close to where work happens and collaborate with one another and the people they support. webAI is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and its mission is to make powerful AI accessible, personal and collaborative.

webAI Public Sector, Inc., a U.S.-owned, nontraditional defense contractor and a wholly owned subsidiary of webAI, brings this same technology to government and defense missions.

SOURCE webAI