The U.S. Department of War has awarded Metron Inc., based in Reston, Virginia, a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract valued at nearly $9.95 million to support research and development in mission planning. According to the announcement, the project is aimed at enhancing the Navy’s ability to factor environmental and operational risks into its planning systems.
The effort will integrate advanced Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) data, alongside probabilistic risk assessments, to strengthen how naval forces account for environmental conditions. The Department noted that the research will focus on physical battlespace elements such as atmospheric influences on the electromagnetic spectrum, space weather, and underwater acoustic effects.
Metron is expected to design algorithms and decision-support tools that can predict and assess uncertain operational risks, including hazardous weather, sea states, and challenges associated with autonomous and remote platforms. The tools developed will provide commanders with user-friendly systems that deliver actionable insights on mission and force-level risks.
According to the announcement, the program leverages observed, forecasted, and derived environmental data to improve both tactical and operational decision-making across multiple domains. The contract covers a 60-month base period with no extension options and work will be carried out in Reston, Virginia, with completion expected by September 2030.
