Data Centers Could Help Determine Who Wins the Next War, and a Shortage of Compute Would Be ‘Catastrophic,’ Retired General Says

Why It Matters

Without sufficient data‑center capacity, the U.S. military could lose its edge in speed‑of‑decision warfare, jeopardizing national security and strategic dominance.

Key Takeaways

• Data centers are deemed a strategic asset for U.S. military operations
• AI‑driven targeting in Iran war relied on rapid data processing
• Public opposition grows as AI compute drives up electricity costs
• China’s rapid data‑center build‑out threatens U.S. strategic advantage
• Shortfall in compute could cripple future U.S. warfighting capabilities

Pulse Analysis

Deptula’s recent op‑ed reframes data centers from commercial utilities to core components of national defense. By storing, moving, and processing massive data streams at unprecedented speed, they enable the Pentagon’s integrated weapons ecosystem—ranging from hypersonic missiles to autonomous drones. The Iran conflict illustrated this shift, as AI platforms supplied by firms like Palantir delivered real‑time targeting intelligence, while a dispute with Anthropic underscored the military’s dependence on private AI models for intelligence analysis. Such reliance makes compute capacity a matter of strategic survivability.

The operational importance of data infrastructure is now evident on the battlefield. Iran’s attack on Amazon’s Middle‑East data centers demonstrated that adversaries view these facilities as extensions of state power, capable of disrupting command and control. Simultaneously, Ukraine’s drone deployments, increasingly infused with autonomous AI, showcase how data‑driven autonomy can tilt tactical outcomes. Deptula warns that any shortfall in storage or processing power could cripple the U.S. ability to sense, decide, and act faster than rivals—a capability that defines modern warfare.

Yet the push to expand AI compute faces domestic resistance. Communities across the United States are blocking new data‑center projects, citing soaring electricity bills and environmental concerns tied to AI‑intensive workloads. This backlash collides with a geopolitical race: China is rapidly scaling its own data‑center capacity, leveraging state‑directed investment to close the gap. Policymakers must balance local opposition with the imperative to maintain a robust, secure compute backbone, potentially through incentives for renewable energy integration and clearer regulatory frameworks that safeguard both national security and public interests.