Oracle announced the third cohort of the Oracle Defense Ecosystem at the Oracle Defence Tech Summit 2026, adding 10 defense technology companies to its network. The initiative connects Oracle's distributed cloud and AI infrastructure with emerging firms to help national security organizations accelerate innovation from prototype to mission impact. The new cohort focuses on delivering mission-critical capabilities in AI, cyber, secure communications, operational intelligence, and autonomous systems for the US and allied nations.

"Defense organizations cannot afford to wait years for promising technologies to move from prototype to mission use," said Rand Waldron, senior vice president, Oracle. He stated the ecosystem provides a faster path for companies to build on Oracle, deploy on sovereign cloud and AI infrastructure, and reach customers in demanding environments.

New Member Companies

The third cohort includes 10 companies building mission-ready technologies:

Ecosystem Benefits and Accelerator

Oracle expanded member benefits through the Defence Holdings accelerator initiative. This partnership helps companies explore deployment paths across Oracle's distributed cloud portfolio, including public, sovereign, government, hybrid, and edge environments. The accelerator focuses on accelerating customer engagement and strategic partnerships for early-stage companies. Members receive priority access to the application process, particularly for technologies in agentic AI, cognitive warfare, critical infrastructure protection, and autonomous systems.

Additionally, Oracle launched an enablement and innovation program with Shield Reply and Red Reply. This program helps members build, modernize, secure, and operationalize solutions on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and Oracle Roving Edge Infrastructure. Red Reply provides access to fast-start packages, readiness assessments, proof-of-concept environments, and DevSecOps enablement at preferred rates.

Oracle employed approximately 141,000 full-time employees globally as of May 31, 2026, with the majority of its workforce stationed outside the United States. The technology giant reported that roughly 92,000 employees were based internationally, while 49,000 were employed in the U.S. The company provided a breakdown of its workforce across various lines of business, highlighting its significant investment in technical and service-oriented roles.

Workforce distribution by segment

Oracle's employee distribution reflects its strategic focus on cloud services, software innovation, and customer support. Research and development accounted for the largest segment with 43,000 employees, underscoring the company's emphasis on product innovation. The services division followed with 34,000 employees, indicating a strong commitment to post-sales support and implementation.

Employee tenure and labor relations

The average tenure of Oracle's employees is approximately eight years, suggesting a stable workforce with significant institutional knowledge. The company noted that 31% of its employees have been with the organization for ten years or more. Regarding labor representation, Oracle stated that none of its U.S. employees are represented by labor unions. However, in certain foreign subsidiaries, labor unions or workers’ councils do represent some of its employees.