DEFCON AI Achieves Major R&D Milestone with Launch of Advanced Theater Distribution Planning Tool for Talisman Sabre 2025

MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 10, 2025--

DEFCON AI, an insights company specializing in optimization of complex networks, today announced the successful completion of a key research and development milestone: the deployment of a theater distribution planning tool for contested logistics planning using Talisman Sabre 2025 (TS 25) data.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250710145356/en/

TS 25 is a premier bilateral military exercise between the United States and Australia, designed to enhance the interoperability and readiness across multi-domain operations. In support of this mission, DEFCON AI has expanded its flagship platform, ARTIV, to include a new capability of Theater Distribution.

ARTIV is DEFCON AI’s modeling, simulation, and analysis tool designed with the optimization goals of effectiveness, efficiency, and resiliency. This SBIR-Phase-II-developed advanced capability models complex logistics networks across air, sea, rail, and road domains, and delivers results in a matter of minutes or even seconds compared to the hours it takes to complete similar analyses today. Under continuous internal development, DEFCON has grown to a Multi-Modal version supporting worldwide deployments via air, land and sea, and now a Theater Distribution model to support Combatant Command staff as they integrate with USTRANSCOM and Service Components of deployment and sustainment in contested spaces.

The Joint Concept of Contested Logistics defines contested logistics as the act of planning, executing, and enabling the movement and support of military forces across multiple domains/environments across air, land, sea, space, cyber, and electromagnetic spectrum in a contested environment.

"ARTIV’s Theater Distribution provides planners the ability to develop courses of action quickly to meet commanders’ requirements. DEFCON AI capabilities showcased during TS 25 enable the Joint Concept of Contested Logistics by delivering rapid, data-driven, and resilient logistics through advances in mathematical optimization and analytics to support agile modeling and simulation of various scenarios to reinforce enhanced decision-making in the face of inevitable disruptions,” said Major General (ret.) Stephen Farmen, 21 st Commanding General of the U.S. Army Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command and DEFCON AI Advisor.

Within the Theater Distribution module, ARTIV incorporates detailed mission parameters, including cargo and passenger movement requirements, the earliest dates available for movement, and the required delivery date to their tactical locations at the destination. Users set up planning scenarios by determining theater ports of debarkation or final destinations with associated movement dates and prioritization. ARTIV leverages mathematical optimization to rapidly develop courses of action for logistics flows, adjusts for user-driven changes in force flow or composition, ultimately providing recommended actions that are visualized on an interactive map and are presented in tabular and graphical formats.

A key feature of the Theater Distribution module is its ability to navigate disruptions in course-of-action development and assess downstream impacts to logistics networks. This capability is critical for preparing logistics planners to operate in contested and degraded environments. The platform also supports the evaluation of multiple courses of action, incorporating air, land, and sea, enabling planners to compare strategies and optimize mission outcomes.

To experience how DEFCON AI is transforming military logistics and theater distribution planning, contact us today at info@defconai.com to schedule a demonstration of our software.

About DEFCON AI

DEFCON AI, an insights company born in defense transportation and logistics, delivers next-generation modeling, simulation, and analysis toolsets tailored for resilient optimization of complex systems. Leveraging lessons learned from our extensive expertise in artificial intelligence, mathematical optimization, data analytics, and world-class software engineering, our technology provides insights for better decisions in a complex and dynamically changing world. We empower clients to anticipate, assess, and mitigate the potential impacts of disrupted and non-disrupted networks, aligning outcomes with operational goals. Visit us at defconai.com and follow us on social media ( LinkedIn, X, Instagram ).

DEFCON AI’s ARTIV – Theater Distribution demonstrating optimization across multi-modal transportation including air, land, and sea.

DENVER (AP) — A Frontier Airlines plane hit and killed a pedestrian on the runway of the Denver International Airport during takeoff, airport authorities said, sparking an engine fire and forcing passengers to evacuate.

The plane, on route from Denver to Los Angeles International Airport, “reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday," the airport's official X account wrote.

A spokesperson for the airport said the pedestrian, who jumped a perimeter fence, has died. They said the unidentified person was hit two minutes after entering the airport. The person is not believed to be an airport employee.

“We're stopping on the runway,” the pilot tells the control tower according to the site ATC.com. “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.”

The pilot tells the air traffic controller they have “231 souls” on board and that an “individual was walking across the runway.”

The air traffic controller responds that they are “rolling the trucks now" before the pilot tells the tower they “have smoke in the aircraft. We are going to evacuate on the runway.”

Frontier Airlines said in a statement flight 4345 was the one involved in the collision and that “smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff.” It was not clear whether the smoke was linked to the crash with the pedestrian.

“The Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members,” the airline said. “We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities.”

Passengers were then evacuated via slides and the emergency crew bused them to the terminal. The airport spokesperson said 12 passengers suffered minor injuries and five were taken to local hospitals.

Denver Airport said the National Transportation Safety Board had been notified and that runway 17L, where the incident took place, will remain closed while an investigation is conducted. It is expected to open later today.

The pedestrian death came a day after a Delta Air Lines employee was killed while on the job at the Orlando International Airport. In a statement, the airline said the employee was killed Thursday night without providing details of the incident nor the name of the employee.

“We are focused on extending our full support to family and taking care of our Orlando team during this difficult time,” the airline said. "We are working with local authorities as a full investigation gets underway to determine what occurred.”

FILE - A Frontier Airlines jetliner taxis down a runway for take off from Denver International airport on Nov. 25, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)