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Pentagon Reveals Use of Musk's Grok AI for Strikes across Iran

The Pentagon disclosed that Elon Musk’s Grok AI was utilized to coordinate the deployment of over 2,000 munitions in Iran. This revelation emerged during legal efforts to protect an xAI data center, prompting US lawmakers to seek strict restrictions on automated warfare.

June 18, 2026Clash Report

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Elon Musk and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, March 21, 2025 - DOD

The Pentagon has utilized a government-specific version of Elon Musk’s Grok artificial intelligence to deploy thousands of munitions during the conflict in Iran, a Department of Defense official revealed Monday.

The disclosure marks a significant escalation in the integration of commercial AI models into direct military operations.

Used for More Than 2,000 Targets

Cameron Stanley, the chief digital and artificial intelligence officer for the Department of Defense, detailed the technology's application in a sworn court statement on Monday.

He confirmed that the military relied heavily on xAI technology throughout the campaign.

The Grok Gov Model facilitated the deployment of more than 2,000 munitions against an equal number of distinct targets within a 96-hour window.

Stanley stated the chatbot demonstrated greatly increased operational efficiency for U.S. forces.

Revealed in Defense of a Data Center

The Pentagon disclosed the operational details as part of a legal defense by the Trump administration to protect a Memphis-based xAI data center.

Justice Department officials

The NAACP has filed a lawsuit alleging the facility is illegally polluting the local air.

The Justice Department has formally requested a judge to dismiss the environmental lawsuit.

Justice officials argued that maintaining operations at the Colossus 2 data center is essential to national security missions.

Stanley described the Memphis facility as a vital asset for military targeting, intelligence gathering, and readiness.

He noted the system provides unique features unmatched by other frontier artificial intelligence models.

The Grok Gov Model specifically supports military planning workflows, report generation, and logistics-related predictive analytics.

It is also actively utilized for adversary red-teaming, personnel management, and securing medical supply lines.

Pentagon Reveals Use of Musk's Grok AI for Strikes across Iran