A $13.5 billion defense contract secured! Salesforce, Inc. (CRM.US) enters the project to modernize the U.S. Air Force fleet.

Customer relationship management software giant Salesforce, Inc. (CRM.US) became the focus of the market on Wednesday. The U.S. Air Force's 441st Vehicle Support Chain Operations Squadron (VSCOS) has selected its national security business division Missionforce to assist in completing a $13.5 billion military vehicle fleet modernization project. According to a statement released by Salesforce, Inc., the U.S. Air Force will utilize the Missionforce platform to integrate logistics management processes, reduce vehicle downtime, and improve the readiness of its approximately 100,000 military vehicles worldwide. VSCOS is responsible for the overall planning, scheduling, and maintenance support of all U.S. Air Force vehicle assets. Kendall Collins, CEO of Salesforce, Inc.'s Missionforce and government cloud business, stated: "The 441st VSCOS has demonstrated the global impact that a lean, mission-focused team can achieve when combined with the Salesforce, Inc. platform. By integrating disparate logistics systems into the Missionforce national security unified platform, the Air Force has transformed its fragmented logistics operations into a strategic advantage. This will provide commanders with clearer asset visibility, reduce maintenance downtime, and ensure vehicles are ready for deployment at a moment's notice." Salesforce, Inc.'s stock price edged slightly lower in pre-market trading on Wednesday, decreasing by 1.96% as of the time of writing. The market may be digesting the potential impact of this contract on profit margins and implementation costs, but in the long term, this government contract is expected to further solidify its competitive stronghold in the public sector cloud services arena.