Military Embedded Systems

Procurement modernization represents a major structural shift in how the U.S. federal government buys technology products for the armed forces and responds to global tensions and threats. The July 2025 Executive Order on Modernizing Defense Acquisitions (Executive Order 14265) and sweeping U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) reforms enable purchasing for the military to be more responsive to new technologies and threats.

The U.S. military’s mobile rugged computing requirements are highly specific, varying, and at times counterintuitive. One size does not fit all in this environment, so engineers and designers should be prepared to go beyond simply understanding the needs and applications of the different branches and must actually be willing and able to provide the flexibility to tailor solutions to fit various situations and time frames.

When tactical information is difficult to access, analyze, and share on the battlefield, the consequences can be catastrophic. This is a longstanding problem that continues to grow exponentially with each new data source, including input from tools including drones and Internet of Military Things (IoMT) devices. Defense organizations are mitigating this problem by using military-grade laptops and tablets so that battlefield groups can quickly share and act on combat information.