TLDR
- Navy awarded Palantir Technologies a $448 million contract to manage nuclear submarine fleet supply chains using AI software
- The program aims to reduce submarine maintenance downtime by replacing manual spreadsheet tracking with predictive analytics
- Palantir’s software will provide 60-180 days advance warning of supply chain problems instead of same-day alerts
- The contract is funded by Trump’s signature spending bill passed in July and could expand to aircraft carriers and fighter jets
- Initial rollout includes two major shipbuilders, three public shipyards, and over 100 suppliers
The U.S. Navy awarded Palantir Technologies a $448 million contract to overhaul supply chain management for its nuclear submarine fleet. The deal represents a major expansion of Palantir’s military work.
BREAKING: The US Navy has announced a $448 million strategic investment in the Shipbuilding Operating System (Ship OS) to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence and autonomy technologies across the industrial base.
Ships OS will leverage Palantir’s software to… pic.twitter.com/n01kg1CmW2
— amit (@amitisinvesting) December 9, 2025
The contract funds come from President Trump’s signature spending bill passed in July. Navy Secretary John Phelan announced the award on Tuesday.
The program, called Ship OS, will initially focus on submarines. It could later expand to aircraft carriers and fighter jets.
Palantir Technologies Inc., PLTR
Palantir’s software replaces manual spreadsheet tracking that currently requires roughly 20,000 man-hours. The system provides predictive analytics to identify supply chain problems months in advance.
“Rather than hearing about a problem that day that will stop us, we will know 60, 90, 120, 180 days in advance that we’ve got it,” said Palantir CEO Alex Karp. The early warning system aims to prevent delays from parts shortages.
Addressing Submarine Maintenance Delays
Submarine overhauls are designed to take 18 months. Parts shortages often cause delays, according to retired Navy Admiral Mark Montgomery.
Navy submarines undergo overhauls every six to eight years at government-owned shipyards. These facilities have struggled with management inefficiencies.
“The Navy’s public shipyards have been terrible at the management process in general and they’re extremely inefficient,” said Bryan Clark, a Navy expert at the Hudson Institute. Dead time occurs when submarines wait for the right people and materials.
The Ship OS program will provide a comprehensive view of supply chains and production capacity. The initial rollout includes two major shipbuilders, three public shipyards, and more than 100 suppliers.
Early Results and Future Plans
Mike Gallagher, Palantir’s head of defense and former congressman, said the program shows “transformational” results. ShipOS turned 1,850 production days into 75 days of work for one supplier.
The system reduced a 200-hour process to 12 seconds while improving quality by 50%. It eliminated 2,500 planning days at another supplier.
Palantir believes years can be saved through rapid adoption of its software. The technology aims to make supply chains quicker and more efficient.
The contract marks an expansion of Palantir’s Navy relationship dating back at least a decade. The company’s larger Defense Department business sits with the Army.
Since Trump returned to office, Palantir has landed new government contracts valued at roughly $2 billion. The Defense Department drives the largest portion of its government revenue growth.
The program supports the Trump administration’s priority to reboot American shipbuilding. An April executive order calls for expanding shipbuilding through investment and incentives.
Navy officials said the investment gives shipbuilders, shipyards, and suppliers resources to modernize operations. The goal is improving schedules, increasing capacity, and reducing costs.





