**AUSTIN, Texas –** Despite protests and a sponsorship ban, defense technology maintains a notable presence in Texas, particularly highlighted during the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference.
A significant portion of the activities occurred at Capital Factory, which is home to several defense tech organizations, including the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). This week, the DIU hosted a two-day conference starting March 7.
Following the initial event, attendance by defense officials was limited due to travel restrictions, although many had pre-scheduled speaking engagements at subsequent conferences. Notable local attendees included Lt. Gen. Eugene Brown, the Deputy Commander of Army Futures Command; Brig. Gen. Jason Bartolomei, leader of the Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX (which has an office at Capital Factory); and Devin Beckwith, the technology liaison for Special Operations Command. All three participated in the Tectonic Defense Summit, which commenced on March 10 at the South Congress Hotel.
The discussions prominently featured a central theme: the Pentagon must embrace more risks, especially regarding the adoption of drones and artificial intelligence (AI), to gain military advantages.
“I think there will be a time where we get autonomy that we can trust to do almost exclusively everything that we want it to do. But until that time, we don’t need to wait for a perfect product. Let’s take a [minimally] viable product. Let’s get it out in the field. Let’s start to use it so that people build trust,” stated Lt. Gen. Brown.
**Software Procurement Discussions**
Additional discussions revolved around a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urging the Pentagon to accelerate software acquisitions for various purposes. Lt. Col. Nick Estep, who leads the emerging technology portfolio for DIU, emphasized the necessity of taking risks. “The alternative is so much worse,” he commented at Maxar’s Orbital Edge event on Sunday.
Estep noted that DIU was among the first defense organizations to adopt the software acquisition pathway established in 2020. He underscored the strength of the recent directive from the Secretary of Defense, stating it sends a clear message about enhancing the acquisition process.
He expressed that accepting imperfection and learning from failures are essential for the Pentagon to effectively implement new technologies. “We have to field it. We’ll have to show joint experimentation and learn,” he said.
While financial firms understand the risks of investing in defense technology, they are ultimately focused on profitability. James Cross, managing director at Franklin Venture Partners, discussed the balance between funding development and maintaining profit margins during investing panels.
**Emphasizing Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy**
The Pentagon has made clear its intent to integrate innovative software and utilize AI in military operations. However, there are challenges in both implementation and adopting AI technologies across various platforms. Estep criticized the government’s efforts in establishing IT infrastructure and the failure to use basic automation tools.
“It’s important to mitigate AI risks but integrating technology is essential,” he stated. Autonomous systems including drones were discussed as potential solutions for delivering supplies and minimizing risk to crews, with Paul Lwin, co-founder of HavocAI, explaining their potential to keep expensive warships safe.
Lwin highlighted the economic implications of employing affordable autonomous vessels versus traditional battleships, suggesting a strategic advantage against adversaries like China.
**Challenges Ahead for Acquisition**
Pandemic-induced bureaucratic barriers pose substantial challenges for the Pentagon in deploying autonomous weapon systems and sensor platforms at scale. Nelson Mills, founder of Vatn Systems, pointed to upcoming opportunities that could reshape the landscape before 2027.
Mills expressed a cautious optimism regarding the Pentagon’s willingness to reform acquisition processes. He noted that while the right framework and proposals exist, including the FORGED Act, effective execution is crucial for moving forward with system deployments.
“It’s just about executing and making sure we actually fund these programs,” he concluded, underscoring the need for decisive action in the acquisition domain.
