Smack Technologies raises $61M to develop military AI tools

Smack Technologies, a defense-technology startup, is raising $61 million in a Series B funding round to accelerate the production of its AI decision-making tools and develop wearable battlefield hardware. The funding follows a shift in Pentagon procurement strategy after the Department of Defense identified Anthropic as a “supply-chain risk” earlier this year, prompting military branches to diversify their AI vendors.

CEO Andy Markoff stated that the U.S. military is seeking decentralized AI capabilities to prepare for potential future conflicts with peer adversaries. In such scenarios, troops may operate in communications-degraded environments where they cannot rely on centralized operations centers. Smack’s flagship technology, Omega, uses reinforcement learning to assist the Marine Corps with real-time fires-planning and tactical adjustments.

The new capital will also fund the development of “Alpha,” a flexible, wearable AI display designed for the forearm. The company, which has grown from 19 to 51 employees since April, plans to expand its workforce to approximately 85 by the end of the year.