The first large shipment of 1,792 GPUs, out of a total of 6,144 NVIDIA Blackwell-generation graphics processors, has arrived in Armenia for the first phase of the Firebird AI megaproject.

Firebird AI co-founder Alexander Yesayan, accompanied by Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, visited Zvartnots Airport to inspect the cargo, the ministry said in a press release.

“In the first phase, it is planned to launch a modern AI data center in Hrazdan with a capacity of around 18 MW, equipped with high-performance computing resources based on the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture. The center will use a closed-loop water cooling system, which is filled once and used for several years, ensuring high energy efficiency and reliable operation,” the ministry said.

The investment volume in the first phase is estimated at around $500 million. In the second phase, it is planned to attract up to $4 billion in investments and deploy an additional approximately 42,000 graphics processors, advancing Armenia into the top five countries globally with the most powerful AI data centers.

After the launch of the first phase, up to 100 highly qualified specialists will work at the center, while more than 1,000 specialists will be involved in the construction and expansion of the second phase, creating new high-paying jobs.

A key component of the project is the $25 million strategic program signed between the Government of Armenia and Firebird AI, under which the state will receive high-performance AI computing resources for a period of five years. These resources will support Armenian startups, research groups, universities, and specialists, and ensure their use in government institutions, technology companies, and research and development programs in the high-tech sector.

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1251752