The U.S. Department of Defense has launched Project Meridian, a new initiative to analyze how future wars might be fought as technology evolves. Announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during his "State of the Force" address, the project will be co-led by Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX; Palmer Luckey, founder of defense technology firm Anduril; and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. They will collaborate with experts from academia and policy under the guidance of Defense Department CTO Emil Michael.
The team is tasked with studying emerging battlefields and the advanced weapons and technologies that military personnel may employ. They have 120 days to deliver findings and recommend actionable steps to develop, test, and deploy cutting-edge military technologies aimed at preserving U.S. strategic superiority.
In parallel, the Pentagon announced the creation of an Autonomous Warfare Command to accelerate the development and deployment of autonomous systems and drones. However, details about the partner organization managing the study remain undisclosed.
Musk’s involvement reflects his renewed engagement with the U.S. government, including recent discussions with the president and AI leaders on the future of artificial intelligence. SpaceX supports national defense through satellite launches and operates a satellite network integral to security missions. Luckey’s company Anduril specializes in autonomous military systems and drones, holding government contracts for long-range missiles, semi-autonomous fighter aircraft, and Army intelligence hardware.
This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to prioritize advanced military technology development and procurement, often collaborating with Silicon Valley companies. Some observers note that the participation of Musk and Luckey could present conflicts of interest, as the project’s objectives may overlap with their companies’ commercial offerings.