Jesse Menghini’s Post

Discover why defense tech is poised for a major breakthrough in the latest analysis by Amit Pilowsky from Key1 Capital. Published on CTech by Calcalist, this insightful opinion piece explores the convergence of geopolitical shifts, increased military budgets, and the rise of software-driven warfare. https://lnkd.in/dAfFFxUH #defensetechnology #defensetech

Any books about the Israeli Intelligence set-up which has churned out so many tech start-ups. ------- "Unit 8200 is the army’s main information-gathering unit, where soldiers aged 18-21 develop and use tools to gather information, which they pass on to senior officials. It’s Israel’s version of the US National Security Agency." "Less known is Unit 81, the Intelligence Corp’s Technological Unit that supplies cutting-edge technologies to Israeli combat soldiers." https://lnkd.in/gkuQtFbU

"We aim to seed, spark and stoke the flames of innovation. And with so much happening outside of DOD, that requires better adopting innovations wherever they add the most military value."  -Kathleen Hicks, Deputy Defense Secretary, United States Department of Defense The DoD's research and development budget is $145B. Their procurement request is $170B. By combining innovative defense tech companies with innovative acquisition pathways, the DoD can develop strategic new capabilities in the world of autonomy and AI. These new innovative technologies, in turn, are used to protect the men and women who serve to protect our country. #ai #military #technology #innovation #intelligence #defensetech

The ISR Task Force strongly advocates for the #modernization of platforms and tactics to outcompete our adversaries in the current and future threat landscapes. Adversarial capabilities are rapidly advancing at a record pace, forcing the DoD to innovatively fill critical Army intelligence capability gaps to meet these challenges at speed and scale. Fortunately, America is at a distinct advantage due to its long history of promoting a culture of #innovation to meet our history's toughest challenges. 💡💡 Recently, Deputy SECDEF Kathleen Hicks echoed similar sentiments during the Andreessen Horowitz American Dynamism Summit: "Along the way, we've never wavered from our ultimate objective: delivering safe and reliable, combat-credible capabilities at speed and scale to America's warfighters — so they can deter aggression and win if called to fight." The ISR Task Force works tirelessly to find innovative and cutting-edge solutions to the country's most pressing #intelligence gaps and deliver them to the individuals on the front lines. https://lnkd.in/eZEv8vna

The potential returns on investment in the military and defence sector are significant: governments worldwide allocate substantial budgets towards defence and security, providing a stable customer base and they are often associated with long-term revenue streams and contracts that span anywhere from several years to decades, offering a reliable source of income. But working with the government isn’t as rosy as it sounds. If we take the US as an example, the sector has been dominated by the Big Five for decades. Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics have monopolised the industry making it notoriously difficult to enter and compete as a new supplier. Defence startups, for example Anduril, represent a shift in this traditional approach: while the U.S. military has historically prioritised hardware over software, Anduril places software at the heart of its defence philosophy. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision, Anduril pioneers the use of software-driven solutions in the evolving landscape of warfare.

Couldent find a better timing to write this piece for CTech. Israel stands out at the nexus between innovation and defense. How did defence tech evolved in Israel? Why is this space experiencing its late renaissance now? Where do we, as Venture Capitalists, fit in the picture? And more :) #CTech #Pitango #DefenceTeh

🎉👏 In the latest CTech by Calcalist article by Pitango Growth’s Tomer Landesman 🚀 he explores Israel's high-tech resilience despite challenges and its rise in civilian defense technology. Find the article here: https://lnkd.in/dFrAUiZK #IsraeliTech #DefenseInnovation

U.S. Army Pacific and I Corps are at the forefront of driving the US Army's transformation. The latest article by Ben Blane and Dale Hunter, "The Experimentation Experiment: How Small Units Will Drive the Army’s Transformation in Contact," highlights the critical role of Multi-Domain Task Forces (MDTFs) and small-unit experimentation in maintaining our relevance in an ever-evolving threat landscape. From pioneering long-range hypersonic capabilities to deep-sensing technologies, MDTFs are continuously adapting and testing new approaches. These efforts ensure we remain agile and prepared for the complexities of modern warfare. #ReadMore ⬇️ #ArmyTransformation #MDTF #Innovation #ICorps

Today, #SCSPTech and Royal United Services Institute released “‘Leveraging Human Machine Teaming,” a report that examines how human-machine collaboration (HMC) and human-machine teaming (HMT) can help the U.S. and British militaries deter or prevail in war.  The authors argue that U.S. and British militaries should leverage advances in HMC and HMT to offset adversary advantages, by demonstrating the potential to decrease their own costs of war and increase them for the adversaries; achieve decision advantage and impose dilemmas on adversaries; and generate awareness in denied environments. The report identifies five specific capability areas that the U.S. and British militaries should pursue: (1) improving sensing, analysis, planning and decision-making; (2) developing lower-cost, attritable forces; (3) providing for uncrewed sustainment of expeditionary forces; (4) enhancing deception; and (5) leveraging HMC for predictive maintenance. Read full report and its findings here: https://lnkd.in/eHmDW36z

“The geopolitical climate, soaring military budgets, and the need for innovation in modern warfare are setting the stage for a defense tech revolution,” writes Amit Pilowsky, Co-Founder and Partner at Key1 Capital "What’s changed? First and foremost, there’s the recognition that future warfare will be determined by superior technology rather than the number of tanks. The drone war in Ukraine and the missile attack by Iran against Israel demonstrate how technology dictates battlefield strategies. Today the “edge” lies not in hardware but in software prowess, enabling startups to become significant players. Secondly, government entities and militaries have come to recognize that embracing rapid innovation and eliminating barriers to entry are essential to maintaining a technological edge. This includes the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU.), and NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA). This strategic shift creates opportunities for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to prove themselves. "