Nvidia chips Armenia approval has cleared the way for AI startup Firebird Inc. to export Nvidia hardware to Armenia for a new supercomputer, marking a major step in the global build‑out of artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company says the first phase of the 100‑megawatt facility—backed by an initial $500 million—will go live in the second quarter of next year, using Dell Technologies AI servers paired with Nvidia’s Blackwell processors.
Key Points
The project, first flagged by Nvidia in June, aims to deliver the region’s first large‑scale AI data center. Firebird Chief Executive Officer and co‑founder Razmig Hovaghimian said the approval positions the venture to serve both local clients and US businesses operating in the area, while keeping security and compliance standards aligned with US export rules.
Nvidia chips Armenia approval sets the stage for a regional first
With the green light in hand, Firebird is moving ahead on a facility designed to anchor advanced computing in Armenia. The company describes the site as the first large‑scale AI data center in the region, with Nvidia chips Armenia shipments central to the initial buildout and future expansion.
Hovaghimian said phase one is targeted for operation in Q2 next year. At full design, the 100‑megawatt site would draw enough electricity to power roughly 75,000 homes, underscoring the scale of the undertaking. The computing stack will be built around Dell’s AI servers and Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture, a pairing meant to support training and inference workloads for a wide range of customers.
Inside the Nvidia chips Armenia builds: capacity, customers, and timeline
Firebird outlined a go‑to‑market model meant to balance national priorities with commercial demand:
- Capacity split: About 20% of the data center’s capacity is reserved for Armenian companies.
- Commercial access: The remaining 80% will be sold to US‑based firms doing business in the region.
- Deployment window: The first phase of the Nvidia chips Armenia project is slated for the second quarter of next year.
- Hardware stack: Dell Technologies AI servers combined with Nvidia Blackwell processors.
- Scale: A 100‑megawatt facility supported by an initial $500 million investment.
Hovaghimian said the first phase will be funded through a mix of debt and equity raised by Firebird. He noted that Moderna Inc. co‑founder Noubar Afeyan backs the startup, but declined to name additional investors or say whether Nvidia will take a stake.
Policy backdrop: Export rules and shifting alliances
The Nvidia chips Armenia approval follows a shift in US policy on advanced AI chip exports. During the prior administration, Armenia was categorized as a second‑tier country under the “AI diffusion rule,” which limited the number of AI processors that could be shipped there. Several US partners—including Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Poland—were placed in the same tier and pushed back on the restrictions. Those rules were abandoned after President Donald Trump took office.
In parallel, the US has eased curbs more broadly. Washington is expected to approve sales of Nvidia chips to Saudi Arabia, according to reporting this week, after issuing similar licenses for the United Arab Emirates. The Nvidia chips Armenia decision fits within that easing trend, with Firebird emphasizing strict adherence to security protocols.
Armenia’s positioning and the project’s local footprint
Armenia maintains deep economic and political ties with Russia and hosts a Russian military base in Gyumri. Since its 2023 war with Azerbaijan, the country has taken steps to distance itself from the Kremlin and strengthen relationships with Western partners. Within that context, the Nvidia chips Armenia project signals a push to attract investment aligned with Western technology ecosystems.
Firebird says roughly one‑fifth of the site’s computing will be reserved for Armenian companies. The rest will serve US‑based firms with operations in the region, potentially supporting applications across sectors that require powerful AI workloads.
Financing, investors, and operating model
Firebird launched earlier this year in San Francisco and employs about 25 people. The startup is focused on developing AI data centers across emerging markets. For the Nvidia chips Armenia facility, Firebird plans to finance the first phase with a combination of debt and equity. Hovaghimian confirmed Afeyan’s backing, while declining to identify other investors or comment on whether Nvidia will invest capital alongside its technology.
The company is exploring additional countries for future sites, with particular interest in Latin America. However, Hovaghimian said expansion would not begin before 2027, as Firebird wants to ensure smooth execution in Armenia before scaling elsewhere.
Energy mix and site selection
For site selection, Firebird is seeking locations with access to clean energy sources, including nuclear, hydro, and solar. In Armenia, nuclear power is available, which the company views as supportive of the reliability and sustainability targets required for a 100‑megawatt AI facility. The Nvidia chips Armenia deployment is therefore designed around abundant, stable power as a core input.
Compliance, security, and work with US regulators
The Nvidia chips Armenia approval involved close coordination with the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security. Hovaghimian said BIS regulations are stringent, covering both physical security and cybersecurity requirements. “Now that we’ve figured that out,” he noted, Firebird plans to keep future builds aligned to the same compliance standards in other markets.
That emphasis on controls is central to the project’s operating plan. The company intends to apply a uniform security framework across facilities as it evaluates additional geographies, moving step by step as approvals are granted.
How the project fits Nvidia’s partner strategy
Firebird is one of many Nvidia partners working to deploy powerful AI data centers in new locations. The Nvidia chips Armenia project follows a broader pattern of expanding compute capacity worldwide to meet surging demand. While the partners vary by region and business model, the common thread is getting Blackwell‑class performance closer to customers who need it.
Nvidia first announced the Armenia effort in June, signaling early alignment between the chipmaker and Firebird on the blueprint for the supercomputer‑class site.
What this means for Armenia and US‑based customers in the region
Once operational, the facility will give Armenian companies dedicated access to cutting‑edge computing while opening most of the capacity to US‑based firms with a regional footprint. For local businesses, the Nvidia chips Armenia approval could lower barriers to AI adoption by providing on‑shore access to state‑of‑the‑art systems. For US companies operating nearby, the project offers a compliant, higher‑security venue for training and inference.
Firebird’s approach—reserving capacity for the local market while allocating the majority to commercial buyers—aims to balance national development goals with enterprise demand curves.
Key facts at a glance
- Approval: US authorization for Firebird to export Nvidia chips to Armenia.
- Project: First large‑scale AI data center in the region.
- Scale: 100 megawatts; initial $500 million investment.
- Hardware: Dell AI servers and Nvidia Blackwell processors.
- Go‑live: First phase targeted for the second quarter of next year.
- Access: 20% capacity for Armenian firms; 80% for US‑based companies operating in the region.
- Expansion: Additional markets under review, with broader rollout no earlier than 2027.
- Compliance: Project developed under strict BIS regulations for physical and cybersecurity.
The road ahead
With the Nvidia chips Armenia approval secured, attention now turns to construction milestones, equipment delivery, and readiness for the Q2 launch window. Firebird will continue to coordinate with regulators as it builds the security and operational layers needed for a supercomputing‑scale facility. The company also expects to maintain dialogue with potential customers—both in Armenia and among US firms active in the region—to shape capacity commitments as systems come online.
The broader policy environment remains important. As the US refines export licensing and partners look to grow AI capacity, the Nvidia chips Armenia decision illustrates how national security considerations, commercial deman,d and local development objectives intersect in the AI era.
Conclusion
The Nvidia chips Armenia approval is a pivotal step in bringing advanced computing to a new geography. Firebird’s 100‑megawatt, $500 million project—built on Dell servers and Nvidia Blackwell processors—targets a first‑phase launch in the second quarter of next year, with capacity split between Armenian companies and US‑based firms operating in the region. Backed by investor Noubar Afeyan and guided by strict BIS rules, the startup plans to use Armenia as a proving ground before looking to expand to other emerging markets no earlier than 2027. As export policies evolve and demand for AI infrastructure accelerates, this buildout underscores how regional data centers are becoming key nodes in a global network of AI compute.
FAQ’s
What does the Nvidia chips Armenia approval cover?
The US cleared Firebird to export Nvidia hardware for a 100‑megawatt AI data center in Armenia. Phase one is planned to be operational in Q2 next year.
Which technology will the Armenia facility use?
It will deploy Nvidia Blackwell processors with Dell Technologies AI servers. The design targets supercomputer‑class training and inference workloads.
Who gets access to the data center’s capacity?
About 20% is reserved for Armenian companies; roughly 80% is allocated to US‑based firms operating in the region, according to Firebird.
How do export rules impact Nvidia chips Armenia shipments?
The Bureau of Industry and Security approved the project under strict physical and cybersecurity standards. The move follows broader US easing on advanced AI chip exports.
