Hegseth Taps Musk, Luckey, Gingrich for New Military Warfare Study

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has unveiled a new initiative, Project Meridian, designed to study the future of warfare and identify emerging technologies crucial for the U.S. military. The project will be co-directed by tech entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey, alongside former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Hegseth announced the initiative during his "State of the Force" address, emphasizing the need to look beyond the Pentagon for insights into future conflicts. "As we scan that horizon of an unknown future, we should have the humility to recognize that the best forecasters of future conflict do not solely reside inside the Pentagon," Hegseth stated. The project's objective is to "creatively look to the future and identify the domains that we must conquer and capabilities we must master," he added.

Project Meridian aims to identify pivotal battlefield technologies to ensure America maintains a competitive edge. The group will produce an unclassified report of its findings, accompanied by a classified annex. "We should have been thinking about Autonomous Warfare Command ten years ago. We need to be looking forward into the future," Hegseth stressed.

Musk, founder of SpaceX, and Luckey, founder of Anduril, both have existing contracts with the Pentagon. Their companies are involved in developing advanced technologies for the military. The first meeting of Project Meridian convened in a sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) on Wednesday.

In addition to Project Meridian, Hegseth introduced the establishment of Autonomous Warfare Command, which will accelerate the integration of autonomous technologies across the joint force. These initiatives were among six major projects announced during Hegseth's address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.

During his speech, Hegseth also criticized the media, stating, "Our so-called press makes Iranian state media look reasonable," and labeling reporters as "anti-American" for what he described as partisan activism that harms troops and their missions. He characterized such reporting as "a national betrayal."