Edge artificial intelligence (AI) delivers real-time, local analysis at the point of need, eliminating dependence on large data centers and constant cloud connectivity. By deploying inference engines directly on the battlefield, edge AI empowers a diverse range of defense applications beyond commercial generative AI or large language models (LLM). These use cases include logistics, predictive maintenance, image recognition, target detection, and rapid sensor data processing. Lightweight, pre-trained models are applied to real-time data, making them well-suited to the resource constraints of edge devices.
Both the US Department of Defense’s 2023 Data, Analytics, and AI Adoption Strategy and the UK’s 2025 Strategic Defence Review recognize AI as central to future military superiority. Their strategies prioritize integrating AI into battlefield operations, enabling decision-making at machine speed and compressing decision cycles from hours to seconds. Achieving these goals, however, demands careful consideration of hardware to meet size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints, while ensuring compliance with military standards for security and reliability.
This guide is designed for defense organizations seeking to field edge AI capabilities that can withstand the harshest environments and continue operating when communications are denied, disrupted, intermittent, or limited (DDIL), ensuring mission-critical performance even in contested conditions.
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Dominic Perez
Chief Technical Officer
Dominic Perez joined Curtiss-Wright in 2008 as part of the company’s Quality Department. He took an active role in product development and was part of the team that created the first small form factor (SFF) PacStar 1200-Series modules which evolved into the industry-leading PacStar 400-Series product line. In 2013, he led the Quality Systems and Networking Engineering departments, which among other responsibilities created the PacStar Secure Wireless Command Post (SWCP). He was promoted to Vice President of Systems Engineering in 2020 and tasked to lead the development of the company’s next generation of integrated solutions. In 2021, he was promoted to Chief Technical Officer and appointed a Technical Fellow at Curtiss-Wright.
Mike Southworth
Senior Product Line Manager
Mike Southworth is Senior Product Line Manager for Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions. He has 25+ years of experience in technical product management and marketing leadership roles. Mike holds an MBA from the University of Utah and a Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young University.
