US Navy AI Mine-Hunting Contract

The United States is significantly enhancing its mine-hunting capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz by awarding a contract worth up to $99.7 million to Domino Data Lab. This contract expands Domino Data Lab's role as the AI backbone for Project AMMO (Accelerated Machine Learning for Maritime Operations), a program designed to make underwater mine detection faster, more accurate, and less reliant on human personnel. The new software will enable underwater drones to identify new types of Iranian mines, such as Maham 3 and Maham 7, in a matter of days, a process that previously took up to six months. This development is crucial given the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran and the threat posed by Iranian mines to global oil shipments through the vital Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump has emphasized the importance of clearing these mines to prevent disruption to the global economy.