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Program

AWS Warfighter Capability Accelerator Initiative

#defence#public sector

A $50 million pool of AWS credits (2026 to 2028) for US Department of War projects that migrate or modernise on AWS. It's not a startup programme: credits go to projects run through a federal agency with an AWS contract.

AWS Warfighter Capability Accelerator Initiative is for US defence agencies and the contractors and startups working with them. Project-based, $50M pool.

Credits
Up to $50M pool, set per project
Who
US federal defence agencies and partners
Window
Interest form open to 31 Dec 2028
Paid out
After the agency confirms milestones

At a glance

Credits
Up to $50,000,000
Credits last
Programme runs 2026-2028. Per-award expiry isn't published.
Access
Open application
Official application page

01 · Overview

A good fit if you are

  • Defence startups delivering through a US federal agency
  • Contractors on JWCC or GSA Schedule contracts
  • AI, autonomy, cyber, space and logistics projects

Not for

  • Startups without a US defence customer
  • Anyone outside US federal defence

Timeline and terms

Application window
Interest form open, per the FAQ 'from February 17, 2025 through December 31, 2028'. The 2025 start looks like a typo for 2026, the launch date.
Next deadline
2028-12-31
Program length
Programme 2026-2028. Credits are applied the month after an agency attests to milestones.
Credit validity
Programme runs 2026-2028. Per-award expiry isn't published.
Where
United States (federal defence)

Programme-wide pool of up to USD 50M in AWS credits over 2026-2028, not a per-participant amount. Per-award sizes aren't published; credits are set in project proposals developed with AWS.

What changed recently

  1. 2026-02-17

    Programme launched alongside the AWS Genesis Accelerator Initiative (USD 50M for DOE and science); USD 100M in total. Source

02 · Eligibility

Hard eligibility rules

You must

  • A federal agency with an existing contract authorising AWS use (directly, e.g. JWCC or GSA Schedule, or through a third party using AWS)
  • Agency attests to completing migration and/or modernisation milestones
  • Mission uses such as AI and autonomy, battle management and decision support, homeland defence, advanced manufacturing and shipbuilding, contested logistics, critical cybersecurity, space systems
  • Interest form, then a consultation and a project proposal aligned with DoW priorities

Excluded

  • Organisations not supporting US Department of War programmes
  • Non-US-federal contexts

Have this ready before you apply

  • Interest form with inquiry details, organisation or agency affiliation, and contact
  • Existing AWS-authorising federal contract
  • Project proposal aligned with DoW priorities
  • Milestone attestation by the federal agency

03 · How to apply

How to apply

  1. 1

    Confirm the agency has a contract that covers AWS.

  2. 2

    Submit the interest form.

  3. 3

    Have a consultation with AWS and write a project proposal.

  4. 4

    Credits are applied the month after the agency confirms each milestone.

What catches founders out

  • There is no fixed amount per project.
  • The agency, not the startup, drives the request.

04 · Credits & stacking

What the credits cover

Covered

  • AWS cloud services and generative AI across classification levels, from FedRAMP High to Top Secret/SCI
  • Training curricula
  • Access to AWS solutions architects and AI specialists

Not covered

  • Amazon Mechanical Turk
  • AWS Managed Services
  • Ineligible AWS Support (Enterprise, Unified Operations, Enterprise On-Ramp, resold support, Partner-Led Support)
  • AWS Marketplace
  • AWS Professional Services
  • AWS Training
  • AWS Certification
  • Amazon Route 53 domain name registration or transfer
  • Services used for cryptocurrency mining
  • Upfront fees for Savings Plans and Reserved Instances
  • Any other services designated by your AWS contracting entity

Stacking with other credits

Can combine with

  • Existing government contracts with AWS (the FAQ says they're unaffected)

Lifetime cap: Programme cap of USD 50M in total over 2026-2028. No per-participant cap published.

05 · Alternatives

If this isn't the right program

Sources

Checked October 2026. AWS can change amounts and rules at any time.

Facts on this page checked against official sources on 2026-10-04.

Questions

Can a defence startup apply directly?

Only through a federal agency customer that has an AWS contract.

Is $50M per company?

No. It's the total pool across all projects.

Prices and credit amounts are estimates and may change. Check AWS for current terms.

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