US Air Force Plans Private AI Data Centers on Five Bases

The U.S. Air Force is offering to lease over 3,000 acres of underutilized land across five military bases, including Edwards AFB in California, to private companies for the construction of large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. This initiative aligns with President Donald Trump's executive orders aimed at accelerating AI infrastructure development on federal lands to maintain American technological leadership. The leases, expected to run up to 50 years, require projects to be worth at least $500 million and demand substantial power usage, with proposals due by November 14 and final selections anticipated in early 2026. While officials emphasize the importance of these data centers for innovation and national defense, experts have raised concerns about security risks and the potential long-term loss of government control over military lands. The Air Force clarified that these centers are intended for private sector use and are not necessarily tied to military AI projects, marking a significant public-private partnership in AI development. This move represents a strategic effort to boost U.S. competitiveness in AI amid global technological rivalries, particularly with China.