ARMY AL&T
By pooling defense resources through xTech, the Army can enhance its global presence and deterrence capabilities to keep threats at bay.
Now the small business is producing regular deliverables for the Army as part of an ongoing assessment of the technology tailored to the Army’s specific requirements. Magnus Metal Ltd. is working toward enabling the Army’s eventual purchase and installation of a Magnus machine to support strategic manufac- turing needs through digital casting, with the company providing a support team and regular system upgrades to the Army. In addi- tion, Johnson shared that Magnus Metal Ltd. is making progress in the U.S. commercial market. Te company has received $80 million in venture capital investments via Series B funding, which is for companies that have demonstrated market viability and require additional capital to scale solutions. Magnus Metal Ltd. is also kicking off plans to open a U.S.-based office soon.
Meanwhile, Deep Breathe, a medical technology company based in Ontario, Canada, won first place at xTechInternational 2024, earning over $100,000 in cash prizes for its portable, AI-driven ultrasound software that can accurately interpret the results of lung ultrasounds for Soldiers in the field. Founder and CEO Rob Arntfield, M.D., shared that his company entered the competi- tion without prior DOD exposure; before xTech, its technology was primarily geared toward the civilian healthcare category. However, the competition revealed significant interest by the DOD in Deep Breathe’s capabilities and boosted the company’s confidence in applying to other military programs.
Soon after xTechInternational 2024, Deep Breathe connected with Special Operations Forces (SOF) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and received a CRADA for ongoing R&D to tailor their solution for the unique needs of the SOF community. Te company is also partnering with ONR-G to evaluate its solu- tion for the Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. “We wouldn’t have been knocking on any of these doors if it weren’t for xTech’s introductions and support,” Arntfield said. He noted that the Accelerator Program was particularly help- ful in navigating the complexities of working with DOD for foreign companies.
Deep Breathe and Magnus Metal exemplify the impact of xTech’s international reach, but they are just the beginning when it comes to defense-ready technologies spanning allied nations.
https://asc.ar my.mil 39
Te successes across the U.S. and globally are numerous, with more to come as new international competitions are launched.
CONCLUSION Te DIB’s study highlights the crucial role of international alli- ances, warning that “failure to fully integrate and collaborate with allies and partners will inhibit our ability to innovate, deter threats and win conflicts.” XTech’s global efforts continue to thrive, with more competitions in the works to drive innovation beyond U.S. borders.
Aligning with the DIB’s sentiment, the Army’s xTech Program must fully integrate and collaborate. Te international compe- tition series demonstrates the DOD’s ability to strengthen its power through global strategic alliances. As the program’s inter- national presence evolves, the horizon promises even greater opportunities to showcase new solutions and shape the future of defense innovation.
“XTech’s international competitions are a prime example of how the Army is working to promote innovation and collabo- ration across the global technology community,” Mulkern said. “With the launch of new competitions in 2025, the program will continue to establish requisite trust between the Army and international partners.”
For more information on the Army xTech Program’s current and upcoming competitions, go to
www.xtech.army.mil.
ANNA VOLKWINE provides contractor support to Army Innovation Programs for Booz Allen Hamilton. She holds a B.A. in strategic communications from Mount St. Mary’s University.
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