Fueling the Kill Chain and Joint Fires Network with Innovative Defense Physical Security Ecosystems 

CenCore has been selected for the Department of Defense’s Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) program to accelerate the deployment of its Warfighter Secure Series. This selection positions CenCore’s technology to address critical capability gaps in securing the kill chain across multiple domains for warfighters operating in contested environments. 

Established in fiscal year 2022, the APFIT program provides procurement funding specifically designed to overcome the “valley of death” where promising technologies with successful research and development efforts fail to receive the additional funding needed to transition into operational use. For technologies like CenCore’s Warfighter Secure Series, this acceleration closes the problematic gap between a company’s 18–24-month financial runway and the typically longer defense procurement and acquisition timeline. 

APFIT: Bridging the Innovation Gap in Defense Procurement

Why APFIT Matters for National Security Innovation

CenCore’s Warfighter Secure Series represents the type of innovative technology APFIT was designed to accelerate. The selection validates CenCore’s approach to securing critical elements of the kill chain through advanced cybersecurity and communication technologies that protect command and control systems across multiple domains. 

“Without APFIT, technologies like our Warfighter Secure Series could take years longer to reach the hands of service members,” said a CenCore spokesperson. “This funding enables us to rapidly scale production and deliver critical security capabilities to the field, closing vulnerability gaps in the kill chain that our adversaries might otherwise exploit.” 

The APFIT program addresses a fundamental challenge for small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors developing innovative technologies. With most startups operating on an 18–24-month financial runway, the traditional defense procurement timeline—which can stretch significantly longer—creates an innovation bottleneck. APFIT’s targeted funding model aligns with commercial business realities, providing a bridge that keeps promising technologies alive through the transition to operational deployment. 

 The APFIT (Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies) program represents a significant advancement in defense acquisition strategy, positioned to transform how the Department procures next-generation solutions. As a carefully designed pilot initiative, APFIT directly addresses the persistent “valley of death” challenge that has historically delayed promising technologies from reaching operational status. By providing targeted funding to companies developing critical capabilities, the program fills important gaps in the defense technology ecosystem. The strategic value of APFIT lies in its ability to dramatically compress timelines, ensuring innovative technologies reach military personnel faster than traditional procurement methods would allow. This acceleration gives warfighters earlier access to cutting-edge tools and capabilities, enhancing operational effectiveness while simultaneously supporting the defense innovation base. 

CenCore’s Warfighter Secure Series: Tech-Agnostic, Mission-Ready

Built for JADC2 and the Five Functions of the Kill Chain

CenCore’s Warfighter Secure Series addresses the fundamental principle of modern warfare and border security: without secure, resilient communications, the Kill Chain fails. The series comprises Containerized Secure Units (CSUs) and Modular Secure Shelters (MSS) that serve as the backbone of next-generation secure communications at the tactical edge. 

These tech-agnostic solutions directly support the Pentagon’s vision for Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) by enabling the “Kill Web” – an interconnected network where sensors and weapons from all military branches communicate and coordinate in real-time. The Warfighter Secure Series provides critical capabilities that maintain the five essential Kill Chain functions: find, fix, fire, finish, and feedback. 

Unlike traditional fixed infrastructure, CenCore’s CSUs achieve what traditional SCIFs cannot: mobile, dual-accredited security allowing simultaneous operations across multiple classification domains.  

Key Capabilities of the Warfighter Secure Series

The tech-agnostic approach of the Warfighter Secure Series aligns with the Department of Defense’s increasing recognition that modern defense systems must be flexible and interoperable. This approach enables CenCore’s mobile systems to accommodate various internal operating software systems, allowing warfighters to leverage both legacy and cutting-edge applications without being locked into a single vendor ecosystem. The platform can adapt to evolving threats by integrating new capabilities regardless of their software origin, eliminating the need for hardware replacement as mission requirements change. 

This adaptability is critical for supporting joint force initiatives across combatant commands like the Indo Pacific Command and European Command, especially as threats evolve in cyberspace, air, and near-peer competition. 

Accelerating Battlefield Deployment with APFIT Funding

Since its inception, APFIT has invested nearly $590 million in 46 companies, attracting three times its investment in follow-on contract awards, exceeding $2 billion. This has enabled companies to attract three times the APFIT investment in procurement contracts and commitments from other government entities—for a total of more than $2 billion in follow-on investment. 

For CenCore, the APFIT funding means an accelerated timeline for deploying the Warfighter Secure Series. This acceleration will allow the company to deliver the technology to warfighters significantly faster than through traditional procurement channels, potentially reducing fielding time by up to two years. 

That speed matters as the Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Army, and Navy continue to test and adopt solutions that strengthen real-time command and control at the edge. These services, along with Special Operations Command, increasingly rely on dual-use innovations that enhance both strategic and tactical capabilities across domains. 

The APFIT award allows CenCore to rapidly expand its production line and direct critical resources toward edge-ready technologies. These investments support the urgent priority of securing command infrastructure across the United States and forward-operating regions. 

A Strategic Shift in Defense Acquisition

How APFIT Complements SBIR and DIU to Form a Complete Innovation Pipeline

APFIT represents a fundamental shift in how the Department of Defense approaches innovation procurement and forms a critical component of a broader research and development funding ecosystem. Working in concert with other programs like the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, it creates a more coherent pathway from concept to battlefield: 

Congressional appropriation has played a vital role in expanding APFIT’s reach. Congress has recognized APFIT’s strategic value, expanding its funding from $100M in FY2022 to $300M in FY2024, with recommendations from the Ronald Reagan Institute’s National Security Innovation Base to grow it to $1B. Defense Appropriations Subcommittee leadership has been instrumental in establishing and growing the APFIT program to ensure that innovative battlefield solutions aren’t held back by traditional procurement processes. The program continues to gain bipartisan support as it demonstrates success in accelerating critical technologies to warfighters. 

About CenCore About APFIT

CenCore develops advanced security solutions for defense and intelligence applications, specializing in technologies that secure critical systems against evolving threats across multiple domains. Its engineering staff designs solutions that meet the latest Department of Defense guidance on secure mobile and containerized physical ecosystems, communications, cyber resilience, and battlefield survivability. 

About APFIT

APFIT, established in FY22, accelerates operational deployment of innovative technologies with funding awards between $10M-$50M, supporting small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors.  

For more information about CenCore’s Warfighter Secure Series, please contact info@cencoregroup.com.