First AI Processors Arrive in Armenia for Project That Could Place Country Among World’s Top Five Data Centers

The first shipment of advanced artificial intelligence processors arrived in Armenia on June 2 for the Firebird AI megaproject, a development that could position the country among the world's leading centers for AI computing infrastructure.

The shipment included 1,792 NVIDIA Blackwell-generation graphics processing units (GPUs), part of a larger order of 6,144 processors planned for the project's first phase.

Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan and Firebird AI co-founder Alexander Yesayan visited Zvartnots International Airport to receive the shipment, which arrived early in the morning.

The processors will power a new artificial intelligence data center planned for the city of Hrazdan. The facility is expected to have a capacity of approximately 18 megawatts and will rely on NVIDIA’s Blackwell architecture, one of the company’s most advanced AI computing platforms.

Project officials said the center will use a closed-loop water cooling system designed to be filled once and continuously reused for years. The technology is expected to improve energy efficiency and support the long-term operation of the facility.

The first phase of the project is expected to require approximately $500 million in investment. A second phase, projected to cost up to $4 billion, would significantly expand the center’s computing capacity through the installation of an additional 42,000 GPUs.

If completed as planned, the facility could place Armenia among the top five countries in the world with the most powerful artificial intelligence data centers, reflecting the country’s growing ambitions in the global technology sector.

The project is also expected to strengthen Armenia’s high-tech industry and create new employment opportunities. Officials estimate the first phase will support up to 100 highly skilled jobs, while more than 1,000 specialists are expected to participate in construction and expansion efforts during the second phase.

The initiative is linked to a strategic agreement between the Armenian government and Firebird AI valued at $25 million. Under the agreement, the Armenian government will receive access to high-performance AI computing resources for five years.

The computing capacity is expected to support Armenian startups, universities, research institutions, technology companies and government agencies, providing advanced resources for artificial intelligence development, scientific research and innovation.

The arrival of the first NVIDIA Blackwell processors marks the beginning of what could become one of the most ambitious technology infrastructure projects in Armenia’s modern history.

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