TUCSON — A federal push to put AI data centers on military land, including about 300 acres at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, is drawing security warnings, Arizona’s Family reported.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in July 2025 offering federal land for AI data centers. The Air Force has proposed sites at five bases, including Davis-Monthan, with leases running 50 years under a law that allows underused military land to be leased to promote national defense.
Under the lease proposal, the government can buy the centers’ computing services and power but is not required to. The Army said the facilities will help meet demand for AI computing, including drone swarms and advanced simulations.
“What we’re talking about here is introducing a whole new level of vulnerability into America’s military bases,” Roberto Gonzalez, an expert on U.S. militarism at San Jose State University, told Arizona’s Family. He also questioned how the first two selected companies, the Carlyle Group and CyrusOne, were vetted.
Another data center is planned near Luke Air Force Base; its developer received a military compatibility permit from the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors after coordinating with base officials, the station reported.
In Ahwatukee, neighbors have opposed a Menlo Digital project calling for five two-story buildings totaling 1 million square feet on 38 acres off 48th Street north of Chandler Boulevard.
Sources: Arizona’s Family. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Rsparks3 / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
