Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new initiative called Project Meridian during a "State of the Force" address on Wednesday. The project aims to study how warfare may evolve with rapid technological advancements. Elon Musk, Anduril founder Palmer Luckey, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will co-lead the project, which will also include participants from academia and policy, under the direction of Defense Department CTO Emil Michael. Hegseth stated that the team's objective is to examine future battlefields and the technologies that warfighters may utilize. The team has 120 days to submit findings and propose actionable solutions for developing, testing, and fielding advanced military technology to maintain U.S. military dominance.
Additionally, Hegseth announced the establishment of an Autonomous Warfare Command to expedite the development and deployment of autonomous systems and drones. The announcement noted that the study would be conducted through a partner organization, though it did not specify which organization or its leadership.
Musk's and Luckey's involvement aligns with their business interests, as Musk's SpaceX provides satellite services for the U.S. government, and Luckey's Anduril develops military technologies, including autonomous systems and drones. The Trump administration has prioritized advanced military technology, seeking collaboration with companies from Silicon Valley to enhance military capabilities. Critics may view the inclusion of Musk and Luckey in Project Meridian as a potential conflict of interest due to their business ties to the technologies being studied.