As the United States military continues to plot its future use of artificial intelligence (AI), it will require additional data centers. This month, the Department of the Air Force announced that it would move forward with a plan to build and operate one or more “advanced” AI data centers at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Eielson Air Force Base (AFB), and Clear Space Force Station (SFS), Alaska, on the 4,700 acres of “underutilized land.”
Last week, the DAF released a “Request for Lease Proposal” that outlined the project requirements.
“Offerors are not required to submit development proposals for all Installations, but instead can choose to submit proposals for Installations in which the Offeror feels a Project is commercially viable. Although the Government may purchase AI Data Center services and power from the Project(s), it is under no obligation to do so, and Offerors’ concept shall not include Government purchases of AI Data Center services or power,” the RLP explained.
The published date was April 10, and the offers are due by May 29, 2026.
Last year, the DAF announced it would open access on five military bases to private companies for hosting AI data centers. It could further encourage greater collaboration between the defense and tech sectors without the need for direct government funding.
A Dozen Parcels To Be Developed
Beyond providing AI for the military, the data centers could also support commercial AI services. The DAF has identified 12 parcels for potential development for AI data centers.
“The selected developer will be responsible for all aspects of the project, including financing, permitting, construction, and long-term operation of the facilities,” the service explained.
The U.S. military leases land and underutilized property for commercial use via its Enhanced Use Leasing (EUL) under 10 U.S.C. § 2667. The leasing agreements allow private, public, and non-profit entities to lease land from the U.S. military for agricultural, energy, and, increasingly, commercial data center projects, often for up to 50 years.
It provides funding for military infrastructure, including facility upgrades.
The U.S. Army has been actively soliciting proposals to lease land at several of its bases for private data center development. The facilities include Fort Hood, Fort Bliss, Fort Bragg, and Dugway Proving Ground.
However, the projects must be compatible with the U.S. military mission, and the Pentagon retains the right to terminate leases for non-compliance.
Upcoming Virtual Industry Day
The DAF also announced it will host a virtual industry day, which will allow the service to engage with industry partners that could be contracted to build and then operate the AI data centers across three installations in Alaska.
“The industry day will allow DAF experts to engage with potential offerors and provide details about the proposal process,” the DAF explained.
According to the DAF, the lease opportunity is meant to enable the service to leverage its real estate portfolio for technological advancement while creating new economic opportunities. Under its Enhanced Use Lease model, the DAF could lease non-excess property to partners for long-term commercial use, and in return, the service will receive at least fair market value in cash.
“This is a unique opportunity for a true public-private partnership,” explained Robert Moriarty, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for Installations, via a DAF statement. “By making this land available, we are supporting the growing demands of the AI industry while generating value that directly supports our missions and the readiness of our Airmen and Guardians.”
A Space-Based Data Center
The news that the DAF would open land in the far north for data centers comes as Orbital announced plans to launch AI data centers in low Earth orbit, where it could leverage solar power and space cooling for the infrastructure.
The company’s first satellite is set to be launched in 2027, where it could validate GPU operations in space and support AI inference workloads.
