The Republic of Korea's Ministry of National Defense (MOD) has taken its first major step toward “Defense AI Transformation” (Defense AX). With the selection of a preferred bidder for the pilot project of the Defense Integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Center, the military's shift toward AI-driven operations is expected to accelerate significantly.
According to industry sources, Daeshin Information & Communications was named the preferred bidder for the “2026 Defense Integrated AI Data Center GPU Server Infrastructure Project.” The project, overseen by the Defense Integrated Data Center (DIDC), attracted strong competition from major players including Megazone Cloud, LIG System, and Daebo Information & Communication.
The project carries a total budget of 21.6 billion KRW ($15.8 million). Its primary goal is to expand the IT systems needed to support the defense generative AI services launched last year and to introduce new critical infrastructure. Through this initiative, the DIDC plans to upgrade the operational and management environment for generative AI services and expand foundational hardware, including GPU servers, management servers, and network infrastructure. Specifically, the Request for Proposal (RFP) called for 80 NVIDIA B300 GPU chips to power these systems.
Beyond simple hardware procurement, this project serves as a crucial proof-of-concept for the future of military AI infrastructure. The MOD intends to use this pilot to analyze GPU requirements and data utilization demands, using the findings as a benchmark for the subsequent construction of a large-scale AI data center.
As the first official project dedicated to the Defense AI Data Center, its significance cannot be overstated. With the rising demand for generative AI in administrative tasks, battlefield support, and intelligence analysis, securing stable computing infrastructure has become the “make-or-break” factor for Defense AX.
With the contractor now selected, the MOD's broader roadmap--which includes establishing a permanent AI data center, deploying generative AI platforms, and building intelligent defense networks--is gaining momentum. The Ministry also plans to launch an Information Strategy Plan (ISP) shortly to finalize the preliminary design for the primary AI data center facility.
Government-level policy support is also expected to bolster these efforts. The Korean government previously announced a plan to deploy up to 50,000 GPUs by 2030 to complete the Defense Integrated AI Data Center. To provide a legal foundation for this expansion, lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties--Rep. Bu Seung-chan and Rep. Yu Yong-won--jointly introduced the “Defense AI Act” in January, which outlines the development of data centers and testing grounds.
“The government is showing unprecedented interest in Defense AX, not just through the data centers but also via the newly established Defense AI Center,” an industry insider noted. “As the AI data center takes shape and Defense AX gains speed, we expect significantly more opportunities for private cloud and AI infrastructure firms to participate in national security projects.”
