Defense Department Seeks Private AI Data Centers on Military Land

The United States Department of Defense is seeking proposals from private developers to construct AI data centers on unused military base land, including a 207-acre site at Fort Hood, Texas. This initiative treats data centers as critical military infrastructure to support classified operations and strategic programs like the Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2).

The strategy follows a January 2026 memorandum from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth aimed at achieving military AI dominance. By partnering with private firms such as OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, NVIDIA, Oracle, SpaceX, and Reflection AI, the department intends to build an AI-first warfighting force.

These facilities are designed to power operational applications including drone swarms, hypersonic defense, and AI-enhanced cybersecurity. The push for integrated AI infrastructure is driven largely by the ongoing competition with China for technological leadership in the field.