FY2025 NDAA angles to enhance DOD’s AI and quantum sciences capabilities
Valerie Plesch/picture alliance via Getty Images
The FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act again stipulates more AI and quantum information sciences programming for a variety of U.S. military operations.
Both artificial intelligence and quantum information sciences feature in the newly-released 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, with the bill authorizing $143.8 billion in broad science and technology research and development.
Released on Saturday by the House Armed Services Committee, the FY25 NDAA prioritizes leveraging emerging technologies for Defense operations, particularly for cybersecurity purposes. The legislation would, for example, establish a working group within the Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Network under U.S. Cyber Command to develop and coordinate AI initiatives with ally nations.
It also stipulates the establishment of a Statement of Policy regarding the use of AI in nuclear weaponry systems, requiring positive human action in executing decisions by the president to use such weapons, a policy both President Joe Biden and People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping agreed upon during a November meeting in Lima, Peru.
Among its other AI provisions, the NDAA also calls for two pilot programs to develop AI tools. One would focus on developing near-term use cases for national security-driven biotechnological applications, set to commence within one year of the bill’s passage and end five years after the start date.
The other pilot program will work to cultivate AI-enabled software for specific workflow and operational tasks, particularly for the shipyard, depots and other Defense manufacturing facilities. Notably, the bill text requires the program be based on human-centered design practices, a longstanding Biden administration policy for AI deployment.
The bill also requires the Defense secretary to evaluate the possibility of creating a center dedicated to developing and monitoring AI-enabled weapon systems. The proposed Federated Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Weapon Systems Center of Excellence would be devoted to analyzing advancements in AI-enabled weaponry, along with countermeasures and training methodologies.
On the quantum information systems side, the NDAA will accelerate funding and increase collaboration within the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Quantum Benchmarking program to expedite the delivery of “key quantum capabilities” to Defense missions.
It also requests that the Pentagon create a new strategic plan for quantum information sciences and technologies within department mission areas. The plan will help guide research, testing, procurement and evaluation efforts to bring quantum science capabilities to Defense operations.
Collaborations with the fellow government offices, the private sector, research and academic institutions are integral to many of the NDAA’s proposed programs for AI and quantum information sciences.