Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has named Elon Musk, Anduril founder Palmer Luckey and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to lead Project Meridian, a 120-day study of how warfare will change and which technologies U.S. forces will need, TechCrunch reported Wednesday. Hegseth also announced a new Autonomous Warfare Command meant to speed up the military's adoption of drones and other autonomous systems.

What Happened

Hegseth unveiled both initiatives in a "State of the Force" address, according to TechCrunch. Musk, Luckey and Gingrich will co-lead Project Meridian, which operates under the direction of Emil Michael, the Defense Department's chief technology officer. The team also includes people from academia and policy circles, though the Pentagon has not said how many members it has.

The group's brief is to examine what future battlefields will look like, identify the weapons and technologies troops are likely to use on them, and return within 120 days with concrete proposals to begin developing, testing and fielding those systems. The stated goal is to preserve American military dominance as technology moves quickly.

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The Autonomous Warfare Command was announced alongside the study, with a mandate to accelerate the development and deployment of autonomous platforms and drones. The Pentagon did not release details of its structure, leadership or budget. When TechCrunch asked which partner organization would administer Project Meridian, the Defense Department declined to comment beyond Hegseth's announcement.

Why It Matters

The study hands an unusual degree of influence over future procurement priorities to people whose companies sell to the Pentagon. TechCrunch pointed out that SpaceX launches government satellites that support defense missions, while Anduril has won contracts for long-range missiles, semi-autonomous fighter aircraft and Army intelligence systems. A panel co-led by their founders will be recommending which kinds of systems the military should develop and field, which places those interests close to the outcome.

The pairing with a dedicated autonomy command also signals where the department expects money to flow. Drones and autonomous systems are the core business of defense-tech companies such as Anduril, and a standing command focused on fielding them would give that category a permanent institutional sponsor inside the military.

The People Involved

Luckey founded Oculus before starting Anduril, which has grown into one of the largest venture-backed defense contractors. Musk's SpaceX is a major launch provider for U.S. national security payloads, and Musk led the Trump administration's government cost-cutting effort in 2025. Gingrich, who served as House Speaker in the 1990s, brings a political and policy background rather than a technical one. Michael, a former Uber executive, is the Pentagon official responsible for the department's technology agenda.

What to Watch

Recommendations are due in roughly four months, which would put the findings in early 2027. Before then, the open questions are how the study will be administered and whether its members' financial interests will be disclosed or managed through recusals. Details on the Autonomous Warfare Command, including who will lead it, how it will be funded and how it will relate to existing service drone programs, have yet to be published.