The Ministry of Defense has awarded its first generative AI defense contract Jericho SecurityThis marks a strategic shift in military cybersecurity. The $1.8 million Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II contract announced by AFWERXcommissions the New York-based startup to develop advanced cybersecurity solutions for the Department of the Air Force.
“This is certainly one of the primary generative AI contracts in defense and represents a very important milestone in how seriously our military addresses AI-based threats,” said Sage Wohns, CEO of Jericho Security, in an exclusive interview with VentureBeat
How AI-powered phishing attacks goal military personnel
The company's approach focuses on simulating complex, multi-channel phishing attacks that reflect real-world scenarios. “In today’s landscape, phishing campaigns aren’t just limited to email – they include coordinated attempts across multiple platforms corresponding to text messages, phone calls and even video calls,” Wohns explained, describing attacks that chain multiple types of communication together to deceive targets .
What sets Jericho’s technology apart is its give attention to human vulnerability – widely viewed because the weakest link in cybersecurity. The company says that as much as 95% of information breaches are resulting from human error. Their platform creates personalized security training programs based on individual risk profiles and uses generative AI to simulate sophisticated attacks, including deepfake impersonations and AI-generated malware.
Deepfake Attacks and Attacks on Drone Pilots: The New Frontier in Military Cybersecurity
The treaty comes at a critical time as military personnel increasingly face targeted attacks. “There was a high-profile spear phishing attack that targeted Air Force drone pilots and used fake user manuals,” Wohns revealed, highlighting how the corporate helped assess vulnerabilities through attack simulation and specialized training.
For a young company competing within the crowded cybersecurity market, winning a contract with the Department of Defense is a giant endorsement. The deal positions Jericho Security to expand beyond its industrial roots into the lucrative government sector, where cybersecurity spending continues to rise amid escalating threats.
Military contracts often require strict security measures. Wohns emphasized that Jericho adheres to “military-grade cybersecurity standards,” including end-to-end encryption and isolated secure environments for handling sensitive military data.
The Next Generation of AI Defense: Predator and Prey Model
Unlike traditional cybersecurity approaches that reply to known threats, Jericho Security uses what Wohns calls a “predator and prey” model. “We began with attack simulation, which gave us a continuous stream of real-time data to enhance each attack and defense capabilities,” he said. This dual approach allows their AI systems to evolve alongside recent threats, somewhat than simply reacting to them.
The Air Force contract, executed by AFWERX – the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force – is a component of a broader initiative to speed up military adoption of private-sector technology. AFWERX has awarded over 6,200 contracts value greater than $4.7 billion since 2019to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and speed up technology deployment.
