(Reuters) – Palantir Inc has won a $480 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense for a prototype known as the Maven Intelligent System, deepening the data analytics provider's work with the Pentagon, the department said on Wednesday.
She added that the contract is expected to be completed in May 2029 and comes after the Ministry of Defense’s petition for a sole bid.
Maven takes data from various sources to identify military points of interest and to speed up the work of intelligence analysts, according to one brigade's description of the system earlier this year.
AI-assisted target designation has sparked controversy in the technology sector from some workers who don't want to build systems for warfare, and from critics who fear that lethal strike decisions may be subject to minimal human oversight.
Palantir (NYSE:) did not immediately issue a statement.
