US Defense Department expands classified AI partnerships with AWS, Microsoft and NVIDIA
The Pentagon states the new deals accelerate its transition to an AI-first fighting force, authorising integration on Impact Levels 6 and 7 networks handling classified information.
Amazon Web Services, Microsoft and NVIDIA have signed agreements with the US Defense Department to supply artificial intelligence technologies for lawful operational use on classified military networks. Alongside Reflection AI, these four companies now join Google, OpenAI and xAI as the first major US providers to secure such deals with the Pentagon.
The Pentagon has stated that these agreements accelerate the transformation of the US military into an AI-first fighting force. The new partnerships specifically authorise the integration of AI systems onto Impact Levels 6 and 7 networks, which are authorised to handle classified information. This expansion marks a significant step in the department's strategy to formalise access to advanced AI capabilities within its secure infrastructure.
In contrast, Anthropic remains the only major US-based AI provider without a working agreement following a dispute over safeguards for its Claude chatbot. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously threatened to label the company a supply chain risk if it did not agree to withdraw protections preventing the use of its tools for mass surveillance or deployment in fully autonomous weapons.
After Anthropic refused to comply with these demands, President Trump ordered all federal agencies to stop using Claude and other Anthropic products within six months. As a result, the two sides are currently embroiled in an ongoing court battle regarding the withdrawal of safeguards and the future of the partnership.
Market intelligence firm Sensor Tower reported a 413 per cent year-over-year jump in ChatGPT uninstalls in February following OpenAI's deal with the Pentagon. This data suggests that public sentiment regarding these partnerships may be shifting, even as the military rapidly adopts the technology.
The rapid adoption of AI by the Defense Department and the speed at which American tech companies are lining up to sell their wares to the Trump administration have raised concerns among some US citizens. However, the current landscape sees a clear divide between those with approved access to classified networks and those, like Anthropic, still navigating legal and regulatory hurdles.
