Elon Musk's Grok AI Used In US Military Operations Against Iran, Pentagon Reveals In Court Filing

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence platform Grok has been used in U.S. military operations linked to Iran, according to a legal filing submitted by the United States government. The disclosure emerged in court documents connected to an environmental lawsuit targeting xAI's data centre operations, bringing renewed attention to the growing role of AI in modern warfare.

Pentagon Cites Grok's Role In Military Operations

The revelation was included in a June 15 legal brief filed by the U.S. Department of Justice. The filing defends the operation of gas turbines powering a major xAI data centre, arguing that the infrastructure is essential for national interests.

According to the brief, the lawsuit "threatens American national, economic, and energy security by seeking to shut off the power supply for artificial intelligence innovation that supports the Department of War's military operations."

To strengthen its case, the government submitted testimony from Pentagon AI chief Cameron Stanley. Under oath, Stanley confirmed that Grok is being used within Project Maven, the U.S. military's AI-assisted targeting programme.

Project Maven And Operation Epic Fury

Stanley's statement highlighted the operational impact of the AI system during military missions. He said Project Maven's Maven Smart Systems played a significant role in a recent combat operation.

The project's Maven Smart Systems (MSS) "enabled US forces to deploy over 2,000 munitions to 2,000 distinct targets within 96 hours during Operation Epic Fury," Stanley's statement said.

He also praised the capabilities of Musk's AI technology and referred to "the greatly increased operational efficiency made possible by the Grok Gov Model."

The disclosure offers one of the clearest confirmations so far that Grok has become part of the Pentagon's expanding artificial intelligence ecosystem.

Environmental Lawsuit Targets xAI Data Centre

The legal battle stems from a lawsuit filed by the NAACP, which alleges that xAI has been operating dozens of gas turbines without obtaining the necessary permits required under the Clean Air Act.

The civil rights organisation argues that emissions from the turbines affect predominantly Black communities located near the facility. xAI, however, has rejected the allegations, maintaining that the turbines are temporary and mobile units that do not require the permits being demanded.

The case has become a broader debate over balancing environmental concerns with the infrastructure needed to support rapidly expanding AI technologies.

Pentagon Shifted To xAI After Anthropic Exit

The filing also sheds light on changes within the U.S. government's AI partnerships. At the end of February, federal authorities ended their contracts with Anthropic after the company declined to permit its technology to be used for fully automated military strikes or mass surveillance activities involving Americans.

Following that decision, the Pentagon expanded its engagement with other AI firms, including Google, OpenAI and xAI.

The move has not been without controversy. More than 600 Google employees reportedly urged the company not to supply AI tools for classified military operations, while other experts and researchers have continued to raise concerns about the military use of advanced artificial intelligence.

Despite the transition, the government's adoption of AI systems remains gradual. In March, officials acknowledged that Anthropic's Claude model was still being used in relation to the conflict involving Iran.

Musk, a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, merged xAI with his space company SpaceX in February. The company later drew global attention when SpaceX completed what was described as the largest IPO in history on June 12.