European cloud provider OVHcloud is launching a dedicated defense unit to provide cloud computing services to European defense departments and militaries.

Confirmed by the French-headquartered company on Thursday, April 9, as part of its H1 2026 results, the unit will enable defense departments to access cloud and AI technologies while keeping data within European boundaries and ensuring it is handled solely by European companies.

The launch comes amid increasing US political attacks against NATO, and threats against Greenland.

Use cases include AI-augmented command, drone orchestration, communications interoperability between armed forces, and with NATO, while maintaining technological independence from non-European providers.

The defense vertical will be based on OVH's SecNumCloud products. SecNumCloud is a high-level security qualification created by France's ANSSI (National Agency for the Security of Information Systems) for cloud service providers.

Plans for a dedicated unit come shortly after OVH revealed it was hiring experts from the armed forces and defense industry to help it accelerate its "cloud and AI solutions for critical environments." The company says it has been supporting defense players for several years, and its services incorporate "high standards of security and compliance."

Octave Klaba, CEO of OVHcloud, said of this effort: "Defense now depends on cloud, data, and AI. In the current context, Europe can no longer afford to depend on non-European technologies: it must have high-performance, sovereign alternatives. This is exactly what we build at OVHcloud. After France, we will offer cloud and AI solutions on a European scale, but also expertise that can support the transformation of armies and strengthen our strategic autonomy."

Also revealed during the company's H1 2026 results was that the company has decided to "build up a dedicated stock" of €50 million ($58.9m) in memory components and disks for exclusive use in FY2027. This will be funded through "dedicated exceptional financing."

This decision has been motivated by rising global memory costs, which CFO Stéphanie Besnier said had driven H1 capex to 43 percent of revenue, up from 33 percent the year prior. The effort is hoped to save OVH €25m ($29.4m) over the full year.

Revenue for the first half was €555 million ($654m), up 5.5 percent, while half-year earnings before ​interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization grew 8.3 percent organically to €227m ($267m).