Pentagon Seeks $46 Billion to Build a Unified AI Infrastructure by 2027

The U.S. Department of Defense is requesting $46 billion in its 2027 fiscal year budget to consolidate its fragmented artificial intelligence capabilities into a single, classified system under government control. Currently, the military’s AI assets are spread across various agencies, operating without coordination. The proposed investment aims to centralize these resources, ensuring tighter security and unified command.

The largest portion of the budget—$29.5 billion—would go toward acquiring supercomputers and specialized AI chips. An additional $12.3 billion is earmarked for building and upgrading data centers, including advanced cooling, power systems, and secure facilities for handling classified information. Another $4.2 billion covers supporting infrastructure such as modular data centers, cabling, and cryptographic hardware.

The plan also allocates $2.4 billion for classified “AI deterrence” programs and $500 million for priority AI integration projects in cyber operations, intelligence, and manufacturing. This move signals a strategic push to embed AI deeply into defense operations, but it also raises questions about scalability, vendor lock-in, and the sheer energy demands of such a massive compute buildout.

Source: RIA Novosti