The Pentagon announced Friday that it has signed agreements with seven leading artificial intelligence companies to deploy their technology in classified military computer networks, a move that accelerates the US military’s transformation into what it calls an “AI-first fighting force.”
The companies included in the deals are SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Reflection AI, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services. These firms will have their technology integrated into the Pentagon’s “Impact Levels 6 and 7” network environments — the highest security classifications used by the US military.
Breaking Ranks: Why Anthropic Was Excluded
The most notable absence from the deal is Anthropic, the maker of Claude. The company has been in a high-profile dispute with the Defense Department over its refusal to include a “lawful use” clause in its contract. Anthropic argued the clause could allow its AI technology to be used for domestic mass surveillance or fully autonomous lethal weapons.
In response, the Pentagon labeled Anthropic a supply-chain risk last month — the first time an American AI company has received such a designation. This effectively bars US defense contractors from using Anthropic’s products, though the company remains deeply embedded in existing classified networks.
Defense officials believe that signing with Anthropic’s rivals could bring the startup back to the negotiating table, according to the New York Times. Anthropic’s latest model, the cybersecurity-focused Mythos, has reportedly alarmed government officials and bankers with its ability to find vulnerabilities in well-tested software.
Reflection AI: The Unknown Startup
One of the seven companies, Reflection AI, has yet to release a publicly available model. The two-year-old company aims to create open-source models as a counter to Chinese AI firms such as DeepSeek. According to the Wall Street Journal, Reflection is seeking a $25 billion valuation and has received funding from Nvidia as well as 1789 Capital, the venture fund where Donald Trump Jr. is a partner.
The Money Behind It
The US Department of Defense is budgeting tens of billions of dollars for AI programs related to intelligence, drone warfare, and classified information networks. The department has requested $54 billion for the development of autonomous weapons alone.
The Pentagon stated that these agreements “will strengthen our warfighters’ ability to maintain decision superiority across all domains of warfare.”
What This Means
This deal signals a decisive pivot in how the US military approaches artificial intelligence. By partnering with both established giants and up-and-coming startups, the Pentagon is creating a diverse AI ecosystem for national defense — while explicitly excluding companies that won’t commit to their terms.
For enterprise AI buyers, this development underscores the growing tension between AI safety principles and government/military contracts. Anthropic’s stance may win praise from civil liberties advocates, but it comes at a significant commercial cost.
The question now is whether Anthropic will eventually compromise or continue its principled opposition — and whether its rivals can truly deliver on the Pentagon’s ambitious AI goals.