Catapult Information System

The Catapult Information System Program, managed by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), is a cloud technology-based data analytics platform designed to support the aggregation and analysis of data on global emerging threats, threat actors, and threat networks. The program's primary goal is to provide a continuously augmented, real-time repository of data sourced from government agencies, combatant commands, intelligence reports, and open sources. Catapult's architecture, including its data lake and the Attack the Network Tools Suite (ANTS), is adaptable to a variety of National Defense Strategy mission problem sets. It offers capabilities for data discovery, access, aggregation, correlation, visualization, analysis, sharing, and distribution for users ranging from strategic planners to tactical operators.

The RA: CWMD Cross-Cutting Technical and Information Sciences project is the principal line item under PE 0604551BR, focusing on research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) activities to enhance Catapult's capabilities. This project enables DTRA to rapidly develop, engineer, test, and deploy analytical tools, data science methodologies, and software applications that support the warfighter and national-level decision makers. Objectives include integrating data sources to detect and identify emerging threats, threat networks, and actors, as well as supporting command and control, operations, and engagement for neutralizing and defeating counter weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) threats.

For FY 2025, the program's objectives include conducting a cloud migration effort to transition Catapult's on-premise components to a public cloud service provider, in accordance with the Cloud Readiness Assessment. Additional goals are to assess and implement Zero Trust Architecture requirements, develop mission-specific use cases in secure Data Zones, and build an unclassified Catapult data lake for use with unclassified ANTS applications and tools. These efforts are intended to improve the security, scalability, and accessibility of Catapult's data analytics capabilities.

In FY 2026, the focus shifts toward optimizing the Catapult Data Platform, including evaluating alternatives to the Cloudera data platform, enhancing the Catapult framework to support additional data types, and improving text translation and optical character recognition capabilities. The program also aims to expand advanced data science capabilities, such as large language model ontology processing, metadata tagging, and natural language processing as a service. Innovations in data analysis and visualization are planned, including improved visualization of CWMD/CBRN information, advanced grouping visuals, and geospatial search enhancements.

The decrease in funding from FY 2025 to FY 2026 reflects the maturity of Catapult along the Software Acquisition Pathway, with a shift in emphasis from development to sustainment. Despite reduced RDT&E funding, the Catapult Program Management Office will continue to focus on platform optimization, expansion, and innovation. Efforts will prioritize maintaining and upgrading the system's core analytics and data management capabilities.

Catapult is fully operational and accredited on both the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet) and the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS). It pulls from numerous data sources on both networks, supporting national-level data capture, discovery, and analysis, and providing users with near real-time updates on threats and threat networks. The system's adaptability and extensibility are central to its mission of supporting CWMD and broader defense objectives.

The acquisition strategy for Catapult involves selecting best performers from DoD, other government agency laboratories, academia, and industry to minimize cost and technical risk. Contractual services are provided primarily through the IMAX contract, with Booz Allen Hamilton serving as a key contractor for both product development and test and evaluation. This approach ensures that the program leverages a diverse performer base to deliver innovative technology solutions and service upgrades, supporting DTRA's mission to counter emerging threats.