OVHcloud launches defense unit for European military customers, emphasizing sovereign cloud

European cloud provider OVHcloud is launching a dedicated defense unit to provide cloud computing and AI services to European defense departments and militaries. The move aims to keep sensitive military data within European boundaries and ensure technological independence from non-European providers. Announced as part of the company's first-half 2026 results, the defense vertical will be based on OVHcloud's SecNumCloud products, which meet high-level security qualifications created OVHcloud CEO Octave Klaba emphasized the strategic importance of European sovereignty in cloud and AI technologies. '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,' Klaba stated. The company revealed it has been hiring experts from the armed forces and defense industry to accelerate development of 'cloud and AI solutions for critical environments.' OVHcloud says it has supported defense players for several years with services incorporating high standards of security and compliance. In its financial results, OVHcloud reported first-half revenue of €555 million, representing 5.5 percent growth, while half-year earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization grew 8.3 percent organically to €227 million. The company also disclosed plans to build a dedicated stock of €50 million in memory components and disks for exclusive use in fiscal year 2027, funded through exceptional financing. Chief Financial Officer Stéphanie Besnier noted that rising global memory costs drove first-half capital expenditures to 43 percent of revenue, up from 33 percent the previous year. The company expects the memory stockpiling effort to save approximately €25 million over the full year.