The Pentagon is advancing a project to deploy supercomputers in the field, transitioning from prototype to operational status. Partnering with software companies Rescale and Parallel Works, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) plans to integrate Defense Department supercomputers with cloud services. This initiative aims to enhance computing capacity and remote accessibility for troops, leveraging the Pentagon’s High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP).
Key benefits include expanded access to diverse hardware, scalable resources, and enhanced security features tailored for defense applications. The collaboration supports DOD scientific research, technology development, and operational readiness worldwide.
Financially, the HPCMP allocated approximately $300 million in fiscal year 2023, with $255 million planned for 2024 and a requested $240 million for 2025.
Rescale’s COO, Matt McKee, highlighted the significance of DIU’s “success memos,” which validate technology readiness for defense procurement. Their cloud-based high-performance computing platform enables rapid, scalable solutions for mission-critical scenarios, such as weather modeling or structural integrity assessments.
Moving forward, the project aims to achieve IL5 certification by fall of this year, facilitating broader deployment across defense operations. McKee advises non-defense companies seeking DIU partnerships to align solutions with identified defense challenges, leveraging DIU’s matchmaking capabilities and competitive solicitations.
