The Pentagon has launched ‘Project Meridian,’ an ambitious initiative led by high-profile figures Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey, and Newt Gingrich, to pinpoint critical weapons and technologies for future warfare. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the 120-day project, which aims to ensure the U.S. military maintains a technological edge across all domains. This move could significantly impact the defense contracting landscape, especially for companies like Musk’s SpaceX and Luckey’s Anduril, which already hold substantial Pentagon business.
READ MORE FROM CNBC
In a bold move to secure America's technological edge in future conflicts, the Pentagon has enlisted a high-profile trio: Elon Musk, the visionary CEO behind Tesla and SpaceX; defense tech entrepreneur Palmer Luckey, co-founder of Anduril; and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. This formidable group will co-lead 'Project Meridian,' an initiative aimed at identifying the cutting-edge weapons, technologies, and military capabilities the United States will need to dominate future battlefields.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gives a State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Sept. 30, 2026 in Quantico, Virginia.
Alex Wong | Getty Images
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled the initiative during a "State of the Force" address, emphasizing that Project Meridian is not about new strategies, but about discovering and mastering the domains and capabilities crucial for the future of warfare. For 120 days, the team will delve into how conflict could evolve years and decades from now, ensuring the U.S. military maintains its technological superiority across all operational environments – from subterranean to beyond lunar orbit.
Overseen by Pentagon technology chief Emil Michael, Project Meridian brings together expertise from government, industry, academia, and policy circles. While none of the three co-leads have prior military service – Musk notably avoided conscription in South Africa by moving to Canada – their collective insight is expected to be invaluable.
The appointments place Musk and Luckey in a unique position, allowing them to shape future military technology requirements while their companies actively pursue lucrative defense contracts. SpaceX, under Musk's leadership, has secured multibillion-dollar Space Force contracts, including a recent $4.16 billion deal for threat-detection satellites and a $2.29 billion agreement for a military satellite communications network.
Similarly, Luckey's Anduril, known for its autonomous weapons and advanced military technology, clinched a substantial contract worth up to $642 million from the Marine Corps in 2025 for counter-drone systems. This initiative aligns with a broader Pentagon push towards autonomous warfare, highlighted by Wednesday's announcement of a new four-star Autonomous Warfare Command designed to integrate autonomous and robotic systems throughout the military.
Requests for comment from Anduril, SpaceX, Tesla, and Gingrich were not immediately returned.
