The Autonomous Age: 2025 Tech Trends

January 24, 2025

Every passing year, technology innovations in defense applications grow more sophisticated. In 2025, industry experts predicted a surge in defense technology innovation fueled by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous systems, and more.

The future of defense capabilities in the U.S. will depend largely on domestic innovation and trending technologies. Technical progression will fall by the wayside without a renewed focus on rapid prototyping. Each of 2025’s tech trends, as listed below, will rely on utilizing the Other Transaction Authority (OTA), a flexible procurement mechanism.

Below are some of 2025’s key trends:

• AI Dominance: AI is pervasive across domains, powering predictive maintenance for equipment, enhancing autonomous systems for land, sea, and air, and bolstering cybersecurity defenses against sophisticated threats.

• Hypersonics: The development of hypersonic weapons continues to be a priority, with OTA-funded projects exploring advanced materials, propulsion systems, and guidance technologies to achieve unprecedented speeds and maneuverability.

• Space-Based Capabilities: Space is increasingly recognized as a critical warfighting domain. OTA-enabled projects are pushing the boundaries of space situational awareness, satellite communications, and space-based weapons systems.

OTAs are playing a part in developing each of these technology areas. An OTA is a contracting alternative that empowers the Department of Defense (DoD) to partner with non-traditional defense contractors, including startups and universities, that are often on the brink of the most cutting-edge technology.

Projects Leveraging the OTA:

• Hypersonics Testing Development: The MACH-TB 2.0 project, powered by the S2MARTS OTA, is bridging the gap between ground testing of low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) technologies and full system flight testing of high TRL technologies. This will reduce overall hypersonic development risks and provide rapid innovative hypersonic technologies to the warfighter.

• AI-Powered Logistics: Space Systems Command, through the SpEC OTA, is funding the OPIR TAP Lab AI/ML Applications opportunity. This project will solve the challenges fueled by the introduction of machine learning (ML) and other artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to a variety of applications, including target detection, tracking, and characterization of infrared (IR) events.

• Space Command & Control: The FORGE C2 prototyping project will serve as the foundation for a government-owned, cyber-secure Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) for Missile Warning satellite command and control, including mission management, ground control, telemetry, tracking, and commanding. The next phase of FORGE C2 is expected to be awarded early in 2025. FORGE C2 is also powered by SpEC.

In conclusion, the future of U.S. defense hinges on embracing rapid innovation, particularly in the realms of AI, hypersonics, and space. The OTA is proving to be a crucial enabler, fostering collaboration with non-traditional defense contractors and accelerating the development of cutting-edge technologies. By leveraging OTAs, the DoD can navigate the complexities of modern warfare, ensuring that our military maintains a technological edge in an increasingly competitive global landscape.

NSTXL is focused on building a network of innovators and creators across the most sought-after emerging technology fields. Within the platform, NSTXL supports two OTAs, including the Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S2MARTS) and Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC).

Join the mission today.

Accessing technology for research and development can be challenging for government agencies. However, OTA government acquisition documents streamline this process so that your facility can quickly access the R&D resources it needs. S²MARTS Research is creating a more connected and streamlined Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) ecosystem, uniquely positioned to better establish the relationship between research and prototyping.

NSTXL‘s experts are committed to helping your government agency capitalize on trends in emerging technology.

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