Leidos and VML debut Imperium™, new AI-powered platform to enhance U.S. strategic information operations

Rhea-AI Summary

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) and VML (NYSE:WPP) launched Imperium, an AI-powered platform to support U.S. information operations, announced Oct 17, 2025.

The platform combines three years of joint development, Leidos' Trusted Mission AI integration, and VML's communications expertise to provide planning, implementation, analysis, and assessment tools aligned with compliance and ethical frameworks.

Initial tests showed Imperium can accelerate mission planning by reducing certain tasks from days to hours. The platform is positioned to improve combatant commands' agility and speed for information operations with explainability and transparency features for mission-ready intelligence.

Positive

• 3-year joint development investment
• Initial tests: tasks reduced from days to hours
• Integrated Trusted Mission AI with explainability features
• Designed for alignment with compliance and ethical frameworks

Negative

• None.

Insights

Defense AI Strategist

Leidos and VML launched Imperium, an AI platform to speed U.S. information‑operations planning and assessment.

Imperium combines Leidos and VML capabilities to automate narrative detection, threat/opportunity recognition, and planning workflows; the platform integrates Leidos' Trusted Mission AI to provide explainable, transparent analysis for national security use. The disclosed development period is three years and initial tests reportedly cut some mission‑planning tasks "from days to hours," which shows a measurable operational efficiency gain in the stated scope.

Key dependencies and risks include continued alignment with compliance and ethical frameworks, successful operational integration with combatant command processes, and validation beyond early tests; the announcement does not disclose contracts, deployment scale, or quantified test methodology. Monitor the transition from pilot to operational use and any formal procurement or contracting milestones, plus additional disclosed performance metrics or government adoption timelines around Oct. 17, 2025.

RESTON, Va., Oct. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) a national security leader, and VML (NYSE: WPP), a global communications company, have created Imperium, a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technology platform designed to enhance U.S. capabilities to conduct information operations.

Imperium enables information dominance through advanced planning, implementation, analysis and assessment tools, in alignment with compliance frameworks and ethical standards. The platform can automatically recognize shifting narratives, emerging threats and opportunities for proactive response in support of U.S. information operations. These capabilities are enabled through Leidos' and VML's combined artificial intelligence (AI) and global communications expertise.

Leidos and VML invested over a period of three years to develop Imperium. Leidos integrated its Trusted Mission AI into the platform to drive faster, more expansive data analysis and insights. Leidos' Trusted Mission AI is purpose-built with transparency and explainability features that provide operators with reliable, mission-ready intelligence for national security applications.

Imperium is aimed at improving U.S. combatant commands' agility and speed in executing and assessing information operations. Initial tests demonstrated that Imperium can boost mission planning efficiency, including by reducing certain tasks from days to hours.

"Developing timely, strategic information operations capabilities is a critical component in keeping the U.S. and our allies safe," said Jason McCarthy, Leidos senior vice president for national security. "Powered by our collaboration with VML, Imperium is designed to deliver faster, more agile information operations capabilities."

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.leidos.com.

About VML

VML is a leading creative and digital transformation company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, to create connected brands that drive growth. The agency is celebrated for its innovative and award-winning work with blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. VML is recognized as a Leader by Forrester Wave™ reports for Commerce Services, Marketing Creative and Content Services, and is a Strong Performer in the Forrester Wave™: CX Strategy Consulting Services. It was also named a Leader in IDC MarketScape: Adobe Experience Cloud Professional Services and a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Digital Experience Services. VML's specialist health network, VML Health, is also one of the world's largest and most awarded health agencies. VML's global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55 markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

VML is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP). For more information, please visit www.vml.com, and follow along on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Certain statements in this announcement constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These statements are not guarantees of future results or occurrences. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the "Risk Factors" set forth in Leidos' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Leidos does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements were made.

Media Contacts

Leidos:

Greg Hellman
(571) 526-7592
greg.hellman@leidos.com

Brandon Ver Velde
(571) 526-6257
brandon.p.vervelde@leidos.com 

VML:

Rebecca Sullivan
(617) 501-4010
rebecca.sullivan@vml.com

 

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SOURCE Leidos Holdings, Inc.

FAQ

What is Imperium and which companies developed it (LDOS)?

Imperium is an AI-powered platform developed by Leidos (LDOS) and VML to support U.S. information operations.

When was Imperium announced and what is its development timeline?

Imperium was announced on Oct 17, 2025 after a three-year joint development period.

How did initial tests measure Imperium's impact on mission planning for LDOS?

Initial tests showed Imperium can boost planning efficiency by reducing certain tasks from days to hours.

What Leidos AI capability is integrated into Imperium (LDOS)?

Leidos integrated its Trusted Mission AI into Imperium to enable faster, more expansive data analysis with explainability.

Who is the intended user of Imperium and what is the purpose (LDOS)?

Imperium is aimed at U.S. combatant commands to improve agility, speed, and assessment of information operations.