Salesforce has announced that as part of its $5.6B contract with the US Army and Department of War (DoW), $72M has been allocated to the Department of the Air Force (DAF), which includes the U.S. Air Force and US Space Force.
This Enterprise Licence Agreement (ELA) comes after the CRM giant was named one of America’s Most Patriotic Companies in 2026, with a heightened focus on govtech and how both SaaS and AI can play a part in US military operations.
The $5.6B IDIQ Contract
In January, Salesforce announced that it had secured a $5.6B US Army contract that was effective for 10 years. The goal of this contract is to bring the capabilities of Missionforce, the company’s AI national security unit, to the DOW.
When Missionforce was announced, it was a natural continuation of the work Salesforce had been conducting for several years across the US Army, Navy, and Air Force. This particular contract is no different, expanding on the decade-long relationship between Salesforce and the US Armed Forces.
At the time this contract was announced, it was clear that this was the first step in Missionforce’s plans, but also a strategic, competitive move from Salesforce. The SaaS leader has been actively in competition with data giant Palantir within the govtech sector, with mounting pressure to prove its usefulness with Agentforce and the other tools in its AI suite. The US Army contract seemingly kick-started that effort, highlighting to investors that Salesforce has a keen focus on its government contracts and that its proprietary AI has credible use cases.
It appears that the work has already begun to pay off, too, as Salesforce has been named one of America’s ‘Most Patriotic Companies’, alongside Amazon, Lockheed Martin, and Google.
$72M to the Air Force
As part of the larger $5.6B contract, Salesforce announced on Wednesday that $72M has been dedicated specifically to the US Air Force and US Space Force in the form of an ELA. This ELA will help the DAF move from fragmented solutions to a unified platform.
Using Missionforce, Salesforce claims that the DAF will be able to modernize personnel management, improve situational awareness, and create a foundation for future AI deployments across the department.
Kendall Collins, the CEO of Missionforce and Government Cloud, said that this agreement will bring everything important to the DAF together in one place, allowing airmen and guardians to focus on the most important tasks.
“With this new ELA building on Salesforce’s $5.6B Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) with the DoW, the moment underscores one truth: The future belongs to those who can turn siloed data into decisive action,” he said.
Company Culture and Marc Benioff 2.0
If we observe the changes that Salesforce has undergone in terms of company culture over the last two to three years, the govtech push suddenly begins to form part of what could be a much bigger effort.
Take Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, for example. Benioff – who once stood for socially progressive causes – appears to have aligned himself closer to the American right-wing, particularly since Donald Trump’s second presidential term. From a reportedly distasteful ‘joke’ about ICE at a Salesforce event to comments about the National Guard’s presence in San Francisco, to some community members, this appears to be a far cry from the CEO who has historically been one of the loudest voices in Silicon Valley for equality, environmentalism, and philanthropy.
Although Salesforce’s government work is not new, this renewed vigor could suggest that govtech is the path the company has chosen for the best chance of success with Agentforce and its existing SaaS solutions.
For some, this could definitely be seen as an admonition for what’s ahead, with Salesforce aligning itself closely with a government and institution that does not necessarily position itself with the company’s longstanding values of trust and equality.
What Does This Mean for the Future of Salesforce?
For investors, this push from Salesforce to secure its place amongst the ranks of govtech may come as a welcome move. Should this implementation prove successful, the agreement will likely solidify Salesforce’s standing as it vies for further defense and civilian contracts, critically positioning its secure, scalable AI cloud suite as a necessity for modern government infrastructure.
This initiative signals a broader strategic pivot for Salesforce, as the company seeks to embed Agentforce as a critical operational layer within complex enterprises rather than a standalone AI solution. By securing a reference customer with the most rigorous data security and auditability standards, Salesforce is effectively pressure-testing its infrastructure.
It also comes after the CRM stock has fallen nearly 35% year-to-date, with investors increasingly worried about Salesforce’s ability to tie its AI solutions to tangible use cases with long-term, successful results. A lot of potential is riding on this deal, and if Salesforce can pull it off, it might be what it needs to finally be viewed by investors and prospective customers alike as an industry leader.
For Salesforce professionals, this also presents unique opportunities. If Salesforce has decided that the future of the company lies within govtech, then a career within this sector could prove fruitful. Missionforce is currently hiring for an Account Solution Engineer for the DoW and a Solution Engineer for Aerospace and Defence, with lots of growth potential expected.
Within a job market and ecosystem that is currently experiencing significant uncertainty, this may be one of the most viable routes forward.
Final Thoughts
Salesforce’s latest agreement with the DAF is likely a clear indication that govtech is one of the main focuses for the company in the near future. With strong potential to prove Agentforce’s usefulness in such a data-sensitive sector, if the CRM giant’s efforts pay off, it could be monumental for its future.
However, there will likely be lingering doubts about Salesforce’s cultural alignment going forward and what it means for its community of professionals, which is something that we will be monitoring as it progresses.
