Shift5 Secures $950M Air Force ABMS Support Contract

The U.S. Air Force has awarded operational technology cybersecurity company Shift5 a $950 million maximum value, multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to support the Advanced Battle Management System.

Under the IDIQ, Shift5 will be able to compete for orders for the maturation, demonstration and proliferation of capabilities across platforms and domains to enable Joint All-Domain Command and Control. The systems that the contract will support will use open system designs, modern software and algorithm development, Shift5 said Tuesday.

Josh Lospinoso, founder and CEO of the Arlington, Virginia-based company, said Shift5 is capable of unlocking data that the military services need to ensure that old and new platforms will be efficient and resilient. According to Lospinoso, the company provides dual-use, battle-tested cybersecurity solutions directly to warfighters.

ABMS is the Air Force’s effort to create a next-generation C2 system and is its contribution to the Department of Defense’s JADC2 concept. USAF envisions ABMS to be an internet of things that would allow for sensors and C2 systems to be disaggregated.

JADC2 is the Pentagon’s concept of connecting sensors from all military services into a single network. It is designed to allow commanders and civilian leaders to make better decisions.

Shift5 creates and offers cybersecurity solutions for commercial aviation, rail networks and defense systems. Some of its partners are the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Digital Service.