Support for "Project Maven" follow-on and the JAIC, U.S. defense AI core: ~$5.94M (Johns Hopkins APL) (USAspending)
A ~$5.94 million ($5,942,953) contract to Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) for follow-on support to the Department of Defense's "Maven" image-analysis AI project and the then-central DoD AI organization, the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC). It involves core programs of U.S. defense AI.
Contract key facts
- RecipientTHE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC
- Contract value$5,941,089 (≈$5.9M)
- Awarding agencyDepartment of Defense
- Awarding sub-agencyDefense Contract Management Agency
- Award typeDELIVERY ORDER
- Period of performance2020-03-10 〜 2022-03-09
- Contract ID (PIID)N0002420F8032
The amount cited in the write-up ($5,942,953) is the figure at the time of writing. After later modifications the record now shows $5,941,089 (the details above are current).
Contract scope (original)
MAVEN FOLLOW ON AND JOINT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER
Key points
- Support for the DoD AI core "Maven follow-on" and the central AI organization "JAIC"
- Recipient Johns Hopkins APL (a university-affiliated research center / UARC), ~$5.94M, 2020–2022
- Project Maven = a DoD AI project analyzing imagery with computer vision
- JAIC = the central org leading DoD-wide AI adoption (later consolidated into the CDAO)
- The scope gives only program names; contract-specific work is not inferred
- Project Maven, the JAIC and the CDAO trace how the department drew its AI arrangements toward a centre.
1What Project Maven set out to do
Project Maven (formally the Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team) is widely known as a flagship DoD AI project that uses computer vision (AI) to analyze large volumes of imagery captured by drones and other sensors.
The JAIC (Joint Artificial Intelligence Center) was the central organization established to lead AI adoption across the DoD, later consolidated into the CDAO (Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office). The recipient, JHU APL, is a university-affiliated research center (UARC) that performs U.S. government and defense research.
2What the record actually states
The contract appears to support these core U.S. defense AI efforts, but the scope gives only the program names and does not state specific work. General, public facts about Maven and the JAIC are provided as context, but no contract-specific functions are inferred (refer to primary sources).
3Organisations being bound together
What this contract supports sits partway through a process in which the department's AI arrangements were drawn toward a centre.
- 1Project MavenThe department's signature AI project, analysing drone and other video with computer vision
- 2JAIC (Joint Artificial Intelligence Center)The central organisation set up to oversee AI adoption across the department
- 3CDAO (Chief Digital and AI Office)Where the JAIC was later consolidated
This contract supports that Maven successor work and the JAIC. The recipient, JHU APL, is a university-affiliated research center carrying research for the US government and defense. The source summary reaches the programme names and states no specific work.
Why it matters
A case where a university research center supports emblematic U.S. defense AI programs (Maven, JAIC). For those tracking defense AI organization (JAIC→CDAO) and the military application of computer vision, a useful read on the overall shape of U.S. efforts.
FAQ
What is Project Maven?
What is the JAIC?
Sources (primary)
This article is an independent organization based on the U.S. official spending data below. Verify the exact, latest details with the official source.
- USAspending (award details)
- Contract ID (PIID)：N0002420F8032