The US government has launched a new supercomputer in Livermore, California.

The Department of Defense (DoD) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) this month inaugurated a new supercomputing system dedicated to biological defense at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).

The DoD said it is working with NNSA to “significantly increase” the computing capability available to the country's national biodefense programs. Specifications weren’t shared, but LLNL said the system features AMD’s MI300A processors.

The new system is based on the same architecture as LLNL's upcoming exascale supercomputer, El Capitan, which is projected to be the world's most powerful supercomputer when it becomes operational later this year.

The unnamed cluster will be used for large-scale simulation and AI-based modeling for a “variety” of defensive activities, including biosurveillance, threat characterization, advanced materials development, and accelerated medical countermeasures.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Chemical and Biological Defense, Ian Watson, said: "This new supercomputing system and other technical enablers underscore DoD's commitment to building enduring advantages and delivering cutting-edge defensive capabilities that will ensure the Total Force can deter or prevail against advanced chemical and biological threats."