Project Maven (officially Algorithmic Warfare Cross Functional Team) is a Pentagon project involving using machine learning and data fusion to process data from many sources, identify potential targets, display information through a user interface, and transmit human decisions to weapon systems, among other functions.
[1] Reportedly, Pentagon development stops short of acting as an AI weapons system capable of firing on self-designated targets.
[4] According to Lt. Gen. of the United States Air Force Jack Shanahan in November 2017, it is "designed to be that pilot project, that pathfinder, that spark that kindles the flame front of artificial intelligence across the rest of the [Defense] Department".
[5] Its chief, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Drew Cukor, said: "People and computers will work symbiotically to increase the ability of weapon systems to detect objects.
"[6] Project Maven has been noted by allies, such as Australia's Ian Langford, for the ability to identify adversaries by harvesting data from sensors on UAVs and satellite.
With collaborating arms organization in US and UK, it has used Maven and weapons systems connected to it to strike targets from bombers, fighter jets and drones.
It could simultaneously display data feeds, such as aircraft movements, logistics, threats and locations of key personnel such as Chris Donahue.
It was also used for locating rocket launchers in Yemen and surface vessels in the Red Sea, some of which were destroyed in February 2024 according to CENTCOM.