The business of defense, October 18

The Department of War is promoting its next Information Analysis Centers Multiple Award Contract, or NextGen IACMAC, as an $80 billion-plus vehicle for research and development.^{1, 3} Its industry-day flyer describes an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract but does not specify whether the advertised value is a ceiling.¹

$80+ BillionFlyer's advertised contract value

Monday, October 26, 2026Registration due

Friday, October 30, 2026Industry day

The flyer does not specify whether $80+ billion is a ceiling. The notice is for planning only, with no solicitation available or commitment to contract.

Source: SAM.gov NextGen IACMAC special notice and attached flyer. As of Oct. 18, 2026.

TGOs tgos.ioShare

Customers span every service, combatant commands, defense laboratories and other defense and federal agencies.³ The flyer lists a customer shared direct cost of 1% to 1.5%, including support before and after award, with no additional contract access fee.¹

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies is hosting the event at the Mark Center in Alexandria, Va. Attendance requires registration by Oct. 26 and an active Visit Access Request.²

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is seeking manufacturers to move the AN/ALE-47 Common Carriage countermeasures dispensing system from engineering and manufacturing development into rate production. Its Oct. 16 notice does not obligate the government to award a contract.¹

$104MEstimated contract value

10 shipsets/monthAnticipated initial production, estimated

The notice does not obligate the government to award a contract.

Source: NAVAIR, SAM.gov sources-sought notice. As of Oct. 16, 2026.

TGOs tgos.ioShare

The modernization replaces the legacy round-magazine dispenser with a square-magazine design, increasing aircraft magazine capacity from 30 to 48 rounds. NAVAIR says the change aligns joint logistics with the Air Force, Army and F-35 platforms.¹

NAVAIR estimates a $104 million contract across the Navy and Marine Corps. The planned ordering period would satisfy requirements for fiscal 2028 through 2030.¹

NAVAIR anticipates a firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract and an award in May 2028. Initial production is estimated at 10 shipsets a month, with deliveries anticipated to begin as early as 12 months after each delivery order award.¹

Required capabilities include producing thin-walled aluminum castings for the housing, machined blocks for the magazine and loading government-provided flight software onto the sequencer. Respondents must demonstrate certified quality controls such as AS9100.¹

Capability statements are limited to 12 pages. Responses are due Oct. 30, 2026.¹

The Department of War’s Office of Strategic Capital announced an $80 million conditional loan commitment to support Antheia’s U.S. production of ingredients for generic drugs. The financing, alongside additional private capital, is intended to help establish domestic manufacturing operations.¹

conditional loan commitment$80 millioncontingent

OSC announced an $80 million conditional loan commitment with Antheia, Inc.

AntheiaU.S. manufacturing operationsplanned

OSC's conditional financing would enable Antheia to establish its U.S. manufacturing operations

The commitment specifies steps Antheia must complete before financial close

Source: Department of War, Office of Strategic Capital. As of Oct 18, 2026.

Sources

• www.war.gov ↗

TGOs tgos.ioShare

Antheia currently produces its pipeline of key starting materials and active pharmaceutical ingredients through contract manufacturing partners abroad.¹ It uses bioengineered yeast to convert sugar directly into those ingredients for essential medicines in a one-step fermentation process.^1–2

Before financial close, Antheia must meet financial, legal, technical, investment, due diligence and other requirements.¹

Fincantieri is turning its BOOST² shipyard technology program toward industrial deployment, following an initial phase of scouting and experimentation. The aim is to bring new solutions into daily operations and progressively roll them out across the group’s yards.¹

Almost €100 millionInvestment provided for under the Industrial Plan

More than 450Employees engaged in BOOST²

13 shipyardsYards with participating employees

The shipyard count measures employee participation in the program. Wider industrial rollout remains an aim.

Source: Fincantieri

TGOs tgos.ioShare

The program provides for investments of almost €100 million under Fincantieri’s Industrial Plan. The announcement does not specify a spending period, allocate the money by yard or tie it to a named ship program.¹

Fincantieri reported demonstrations at its Castellammare di Stabia yard of solutions already operating, technologies undergoing validation and applications intended for further development. More than 450 employees across 13 shipyards in Italy and abroad, including facilities in Romania and the United States, have participated in the program.¹

The work centers on physical AI, which enables intelligent systems to interact with the physical world, and collaborative robotics designed to help people perform complex tasks. Digital twins, smart supply chain systems, additive manufacturing and automated industrial equipment complement that work.¹

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Pierroberto Folgiero described deployment at scale as the next challenge, with greater productivity, safety and quality as the intended results.¹