- Leidos will support USCYBERCOM planning, threat analysis and cyber tactics development
- Work includes operational support for the Department of War Information Network
- The award advances Leidos’ NorthStar 2030 strategy, which names cyber as a key growth driver
U.S. Cyber Command has tapped Leidos to support offensive and defensive cyber operations amid emerging cyber threats. The Reston, Virginia-based company said Wednesday it received a $160 million award to assist with planning, coordinating and conducting full-spectrum cyber operations over five years.
How Will Leidos Support Cyber Command’s Mission?
Leidos will help USCYBERCOM secure, operate and defend the Department of War Information Network, or DOWIN, in cyberspace and coordinate cyber activities across the department and mission partners.
The company will provide cyber defense support and operational planning, analyze emerging threats and develop tactics, techniques and procedures for cyber operations.
Leidos Intelligence President Jason O’Connor, who moderated a panel at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2022 Intel Summit, said the company will combine its cyber capabilities to support USCYBERCOM, including those gained through its recent acquisition of Kudu Dynamics. Kudu brings expertise in vulnerability research, reverse engineering, exploit development, artificial intelligence-enabled offensive cyber technologies and electromagnetic spectrum operations.
Leidos has also credited its Kudu Dynamics team with developing Parcata, an AI-powered cybersecurity platform designed to identify software vulnerabilities and patch them autonomously. The company said the platform’s underlying technology was validated through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s AI Cyber Challenge.
O’Connor cited technical expertise and an understanding of adversary operations as important capabilities for supporting cyber missions in contested environments.
How Does the Award Fit Leidos’ Cyber Strategy?
The award aligns with Leidos’ NorthStar 2030 strategy, which identifies cyber capabilities as a key growth driver. Leidos has also described cyber operations as an increasingly critical element of modern military competition and warfare across domains.
The contract adds to Leidos’ military cyber portfolio. In August, the company secured a five-year, $301 million Army contract to monitor military networks around the clock and defend them against cyberthreats, with work supporting DOWIN.
The company has also pursued defensive cybersecurity work through a partnership with RegScale to automate risk management and monitor security controls for federal agencies.
