NATO has taken a major step toward modernizing its digital backbone, signing a multi-million-dollar contract with Google Cloud to bring advanced, sovereign cloud and AI capabilities into its most sensitive operational environments.
The deal, announced Monday, gives the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) access to Google Distributed Cloud (GDC) — including its air-gapped, fully isolated cloud platform designed for classified workloads.
The system will support NATO’s Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre (JATEC), enabling it to process critical data, run modern AI models, and strengthen digital readiness across the alliance. For NATO, the upgrade marks a decisive shift toward secure, next-generation infrastructure engineered for autonomy and strict data-residency control.
Google Cloud says the partnership reflects the growing need for trusted, high-performance AI systems that can operate without exposing data to the public internet or commercial cloud architectures.
Secure cloud leap
GDC air-gapped is the centerpiece of the agreement. The platform lets defense organizations run analytical and AI-heavy workloads inside completely disconnected environments, ensuring that data never leaves NATO’s sovereign perimeter.
NATO’s requirement is clear: absolute control over sensitive information, no matter the scale or complexity of missions.
GDC air-gapped is designed specifically for that use case, offering hardened infrastructure, parallel compute capabilities, and modern machine-learning tooling within a sealed system.
“Google Cloud is dedicated to supporting NATO’s critical mission to develop a robust and resilient infrastructure and harness the latest technology innovations,” said Tara Brady, President of Google Cloud EMEA.
“This partnership will enable NATO to decisively accelerate its digital modernization efforts while maintaining the highest levels of security and digital sovereignty.”
NCIA leadership says the collaboration aligns with its digital transformation plan, especially as the alliance doubles down on secure AI adoption.
“NCIA is committed to leveraging next-generation technology, including AI, to enhance NATO’s operational capabilities and safeguard the Alliance’s digital environment,” said Antonio Calderon, Chief Technology Officer, NCIA.
He added that strong industry partnerships are essential to achieving this shift.
AI at classified scale
Air-gapped AI capability is one of the most significant aspects of the deployment. Deep analytics, rapid data processing, and modern ML pipelines typically require cloud-scale compute, a challenge when networks must remain disconnected for security.
GDC air-gapped attempts to bridge that gap through self-contained GPU clusters, custom accelerators, and tools designed for high-performance workloads.
For NATO, that means faster training simulations, better threat analysis, and improved mission readiness, all without compromising sovereignty.
The platform will also allow JATEC to streamline operations, improve interoperability across allies, and manage data with consistent governance controls, a growing priority as NATO faces an expanding digital threat landscape.
Google Cloud says integration will be carried out in the coming months, with the system built to evolve alongside new AI and cybersecurity requirements.
The contract underscores how cloud providers are increasingly building specialized, sovereign platforms for defense and intelligence agencies worldwide with systems that combine commercial innovation with classified-grade isolation.
As NATO accelerates its digital modernization plans, the partnership marks a deeper shift toward AI-ready secure cloud infrastructures designed for long-term resilience, the journal said.