Why AI data centers near Arizona bases are raising security questions
The Air Force is considering leasing about 300 acres at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson for an artificial-intelligence data center. Security experts are warning that private operators on military bases could create espionage, sabotage and land-use risks, while opposition is also growing to a separate Menlo Digital project in Ahwatukee.
The U.S. Air Force has proposed placing an approximately 300-acre AI data center facility at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson as part of a broader plan involving five military installations. The proposed leases could run for 50 years, and the federal government would have the option—but not the obligation—to purchase the facilities’ computing services and power. The Army says the infrastructure would support AI applications such as drone swarms and advanced simulations.
Security expert Roberto Gonzalez of San Jose State University questioned whether private companies operating on military bases would be adequately vetted and warned of potential espionage and sabotage risks. The first two data centers are associated with The Carlyle Group and CyrusOne, which is jointly owned by KKR and BlackRock. The report also noted opposition to Menlo Digital’s 1-million-square-foot project in Ahwatukee and a separate project near Luke Air Force Base that received a military compatibility permit from the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.