Global Military AI Tracker

"Foundation Model Military Partnerships" = a developer of foundation models (large general-purpose AI models, such as LLMs, adaptable to many tasks) has its technology deployed to, contracted by, or credibly positioned for use by a country's military, defense ministry, intelligence services, or defense contractors.

"Narrow Military AI Partners" = external companies supplying task-specific military AI — autonomous systems, AI targeting, counter-UAS, electronic warfare, ISR — plus enabling platforms and infrastructure. Defense deals without an AI/autonomy component are excluded.

"Domestic Military AI" = a publicly documented indigenous military AI program or defense-relevant drone/autonomy activity, whether foundation-model-based or narrow. Drone-only cases are hedged in the details.

"AI Strategy / Policy" = an official government or military document, directive, or institution signaling defense-relevant AI activity, from dedicated defense AI strategies to national AI strategies with security implications.

Inclusion criteria: countries in or near the top 50 by military expenditure or active troop size, all countries identified as middle powers in the academic literature, and any other country with documented defense-AI activity. The US and China are excluded.

Data sources: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database (2025, current US$) for budgets; IISS Military Balance for troops (Global Firepower where unavailable); deals from official press releases, government announcements, defense journalism, and think-tank research (2024–2026). *UAE: SIPRI’s 2025 release publishes no UAE estimate; the figure shown is a prior-year estimate.