KBR Inc. (NYSE: KBR) announced its Mission Technology Solutions division formed a strategic alliance with defense technology company Tagup to integrate artificial intelligence solutions into U.S. military operations. The partnership will incorporate Tagup's Manifest platform into KBR's global logistics operations.

Manifest is described as an AI-powered decision engine that combines human expertise with what Tagup calls Generative Reinforcement Learning technology to simulate and optimize logistics operations. The platform features a conversational AI interface designed to help sustainment teams evaluate logistics scenarios and select courses of action.

Initial deployments of Manifest will focus on U.S. ground equipment operations, with the companies stating the technology is expected to reduce planning time and increase maintenance throughput. The platform simulates logistics scenarios and provides recommendations within seconds.

"Our customers operate in environments where conditions change quickly and the cost of delay is high," said Doug Hill, KBR's Readiness and Sustainment President. "Partnering with Tagup allows KBR to incorporate cutting-edge decision intelligence directly into our sustainment workflows."

Tagup CEO Jon Garrity said the platform addresses the complexity of sustainment operations at KBR's scale, which involves thousands of resource trade-offs daily across global theaters.

KBR employs approximately 36,000 people worldwide and provides services to customers in more than 85 countries. The company has existing contracts supporting various branches of the U.S. military through logistics and sustainment operations.

Tagup, founded at MIT, describes itself as a defense technology company focused on AI-powered logistics solutions. The company supports logistics operations across supply, maintenance and mobilization for the U.S. military.