Signed mission readiness contract using AI with the U.S. Space Force

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July 15, 2026

Windsor, Colorado Slingshot Aerospace received a $69.2 million award to support the U.S. Space Force’s ongoing digital transformation efforts to provide artificial intelligence (AI)-powered mission rehearsal and operational training capabilities for Space Force personnel.

Slingshot Aerospace’s program, called MENTAT, will give Space Force personnel access to AI-powered training and mission rehearsal capabilities from their home base and daily work environment, thereby moving critical readiness activities beyond limited exercise periods to a more continuous readiness model.

A key part of MENTAT is TALOS, Slingshot’s AI-powered operational training and strategy agent, designed to model realistic spacecraft behavior, generate strategic response options, process vast amounts of complex data, and support mission rehearsal across continuously evolving space scenarios.

Slingshot Aerospace officials said the effort supports the Department of Defense’s emphasis on accelerating military AI deployment and building an AI-first combat force by applying AI to preparing personnel for critical missions, one of the Space Force’s most pressing needs.

“TALOS allows Guardians to train on realistic orbital scenarios and rehearse complex missions at a level of speed, scale, and accessibility that never existed before,” said Tim Solms, CEO of Slingshot Aerospace. “MENTAT will significantly advance operational space readiness by bringing AI-powered mission rehearsal directly into the environment where Guardians prepare and execute their missions.”

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