The US Air Force has partnered with Google Public Sector and General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) to roll out the Google Distributed Cloud (GDC) Air-Gapped offering.
This version of Google’s on-premises cloud solution is designed for highly secure, disconnected environments and has been selected in its ruggedized format for Air Force use.
Google Distributed Cloud Air-Gapped
Launched in July 2024, GDC Air-Gapped runs Google’s full cloud infrastructure stack, including:
- Kubernetes clusters
- Data security services
- Vertex AI platform
The offering is completely isolated from the Internet and has received DoD Impact Level 5 accreditation, ensuring compliance with stringent security requirements. Features include encryption, data isolation, secure boot, and advanced firewall protections.
Field Testing in Guam
The ruggedized GDC appliance underwent testing during Mobility Guardian 2025 in Guam this July. Google reported that the system successfully demonstrated its ability to deliver AI-powered insights in a disconnected environment, enhancing Air Force decision-making and resilience.
During the trial, GDC was used to:
- Provide a secure IL2 collaboration platform
- Enable real-time transcription, OCR, translation, and summarization using generative AI
- Integrate with GDIT’s Luna AI solution for low-latency air defense data processing and flight path tracking
- Support computer vision analysis to detect maintenance anomalies, equipment status, and location data
- Build an AI-powered technical troubleshooting resource using hundreds of ingested manuals
Future Integration and Mission Support
According to Google, GDC is now prepared for deeper integration with mission applications and can connect with Google’s Global Network (GGN), offering secure, high-performance links between the Edge and central cloud services.
Broader Defense Contracts
This deployment is part of a broader series of defense sector engagements for Google:
- $200 million DoD contract with the Chief Digital and Intelligence Office (July 2025)
- $48 million contract with the US Defense Logistics Agency (September 2025)
- £400 million ($542m) contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (September 2025) for a sovereign air-gapped cloud
- Agreement with Germany’s BWI GmbH to deliver GDC Air-Gapped for the Bundeswehr
