Air Force Awards $8.6M Digital Engineering Contract

The Industry Øne initiative is designed to create a secure, plug-and-play digital environment. This will allow different organizations within the defense industry to connect their digital models and simulations, regardless of the software tools they use or the firewalls they operate behind. The goal is to create an "internet of models" where data can be shared and collaborated on in real-time without compromising security or intellectual property. This contract builds on Istari Digital's previous work with the Air Force, including the "Flyer Øne" and "Model Øne" programs. Flyer Øne is focused on creating the world's first digitally-certified aircraft, while Model Øne aims to link models and simulations across the Air Force to address complex warfare challenges. Industry Øne will now scale these efforts across the entire defense industrial base. The push for digital engineering is a key priority for the Department of Defense. Traditional defense acquisition has been criticized for being slow and expensive, often relying on paper-based designs and physical prototypes. By shifting to a digital-first approach, the Air Force aims to accelerate the development and fielding of new weapon systems from decades to years. Istari Digital is led by Dr. Will Roper, the former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. During his tenure, Roper championed a "Digital Century Series" concept for aircraft development, using digital engineering to rapidly prototype and build new aircraft. This led to the creation of the "e-Series" designation for digitally-engineered systems like the eT-7A Red Hawk trainer. The Defense Industrial Base (DIB) is a vast network of over 100,000 companies that provide products and services to the Department of Defense. A major challenge within the DIB is the lack of interoperability between the digital tools used by different contractors. This creates data silos and makes collaboration difficult, slowing down innovation. Industry Øne aims to solve this by creating a common digital infrastructure. This will allow for the creation of "digital twins" – virtual replicas of physical systems – that can be used for design, testing, and sustainment. By breaking down these digital barriers, the Air Force hopes to foster a more collaborative and agile industrial base, capable of responding more quickly to emerging threats.