Artificial Intelligence Data Centre Move from the US Air Force

In support of national defence and technological innovation, the US Department of the Air Force is leasing thousands of acres of land on five different military bases to private companies to build massive artificial intelligence (AI) data centres. This strategic step is a direct response to President Donald Trump’s executive orders aimed at accelerating the nationwide adoption of AI technology.

A Total of 3,100 Acres of Land to be Leased on Five Bases

The Air Force issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) on Tuesday for the development of “underutilised” military land. The five bases where the project will be realised and the approximate amount of land to be leased are as follows:

1. Arnold Air Force Base (Tennessee)
2. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (Arizona)
3. Edwards Air Force Base (California)
4. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (New Jersey)
5. Robins Air Force Base (Georgia)

Of the total of approximately 3,100 acres to be leased, more than 2,100 acres are located at Edwards Air Force Base, a huge facility where new aircraft such as the B-21 Raider and T-7 Red Hawk are often tested.

Objective: Staying at the Forefront of National Innovation

“Artificial intelligence is transforming the modern world, and these data centres are vital for America to remain at the forefront of innovation,” said Robert Moriarty, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, emphasising the importance of this initiative.

The move follows decrees issued by President Trump in January and July aimed at accelerating the proliferation of AI technology and the construction of the large data centres it requires. The July decree required the Ministry of Defence to identify and then competitively lease space on military installations that could be used for data centre infrastructure.

Terms of Offer and Process

Air Force officials stated that these data centres are primarily an opportunity for external organisations, i.e. they will be used for projects carried out by private companies. The deadline for companies to submit their proposals is set for 14 November, with one or more selections scheduled to be made next January.

Basic Eligibility Criteria:

• The project requires more than 100 megawatts of new load.
• The value of the project should be at least 500 million dollars.

The duration of the lease agreements will generally not exceed 50 years. However, if the company leasing the land requests a longer term and the government decides that this is in its interest or supports national defence, the term can be extended. Following the tender process, environmental assessments will be carried out and the design will be developed and refined.