Pentagon launches Project Meridian with Elon Musk to shape future warfare

On September 30, 2026, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the launch of a new Pentagon initiative called Project Meridian. Speaking at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, Hegseth revealed that the project is designed to evaluate the future of warfare and identify the technological capabilities the U.S. military must master over the coming decades.

The initiative will be led by a team of experts including billionaire Elon Musk, Anduril Industries founder Palmer Luckey, and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. This group will operate under the guidance of Emil Michael, the Department of Defense's chief technology officer. The project is scheduled to run for a period of 120 days, during which the team will study emerging technologies, including autonomous weapon systems and artificial intelligence, to ensure long-term military and technological dominance.

Project Meridian aims to provide a comprehensive strategy for the development, testing, and deployment of next-generation defense systems. The study will encompass a wide range of operational environments and is expected to deliver its final findings within the specified four-month timeframe.