Air Force Bases to Host AI Data Centers on Unused Land

The Air Force is offering space on five of its bases for companies to build artificial intelligence data centers, part of a broader push by the Trump administration to speed up development of the infrastructure needed to enable the rapid development and adoption of AI technology.  

The service said in an Oct. 15 notice it is seeking proposals from industry to lease parcels of land for up to 50 years at: 

Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn.  

Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. 

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. 

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. 

Robins Air Force Base, Ga. 

The Air Force expects to select applicants in January and could offer additional leasing opportunities in the future.

“AI is transforming the modern world, and these data centers are crucial for America to remain at the forefront of innovation,” Robert Moriarty, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, said in a statement provided to Air & Space Forces Magazine. 

AI data centers house the computing hardware and other IT infrastructure needed to process information and deliver AI applications to users. They range in size, but can span hundreds of acres, and consume large amounts of electricity and water. 

The service has been studying potential locations to host AI data centers since early this year, following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in January that directed the Secretary of Defense to “identify suitable sites on military installations” for the infrastructure. 

“A 2025 analysis by DAF leadership determined that leveraging private sector expertise is the best approach to help meet the AI data center development objectives to remove barriers to American leadership in artificial intelligence and utilize federally owned land and resources for the expeditious and orderly development of data centers,” the service said in the statement. “The DAF is undertaking this initiative to capitalize on market efficiencies, accelerate project delivery, and obtain value for use of DAF property.” 

U.S. technology companies are investing billions of dollars to build these data centers to support AI computing, and since taking office, Trump has made several announcements supporting these efforts.  

In January, a trio of tech firms—OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank—joined Trump at the White House to announce they were creating a new company, Stargate, that would invest up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure projects. 

The Air Force didn’t immediately respond to questions about whether it would provide any funding for the project. 

AI data centers can be controversial in local communities, where residents have sometimes protested their construction over concerns about water and electricity consumption. The notice to industry states that the service will choose proposals that “minimize and mitigate impact and risk to DAF missions, government functions, and the surrounding community” and that offer a plan to ensure utilities at the base and the surrounding community remain accessible and affordable.  

“Any and all utilities, including but not limited to power and water, and all services necessary for the project, shall be obtained and provided for by the potential lessee at its sole cost and expense,” the notice states.