Musk returns to work with the Trump administration in a new Pentagon project

The Pentagon has enlisted Elon Musk, founder of the defense company Anduril Palmer Luckey, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich for a project that will determine what technologies and weapons the American military will need in future wars. The initiative has been named Project Meridian.

The project was announced by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a speech at the Marine Corps base in Quantico. The group is to analyze the development of future battlefields and technologies over 120 days and identify areas where the US must maintain its military-technological advantage. The result will be a public report and a separate classified addendum.

According to the Pentagon's design, Meridian should not turn into just another strategic document. Its participants are to focus on concrete capabilities that can be developed, tested, and fielded. Hegseth explained the involvement of entrepreneurs and technologists by saying that forecasting future conflicts should not be left solely within the military department.

The project will cover a wide range of domains—from artificial intelligence and robotics to autonomous systems and new warfare environments. Pentagon technology chief Emil Michael will help coordinate the group's work.

Project Meridian is being launched simultaneously with a broader overhaul of the American approach to unmanned and autonomous systems. Hegseth also announced plans to create a separate four-star command, the Autonomous Warfare Command, which is to accelerate the introduction of robotic and autonomous platforms across the armed forces.

For Musk, this is his first official advisory role in the Donald Trump administration since his departure from DOGE and a public conflict with the US president in 2025. At the same time, his SpaceX is already deeply integrated into US military infrastructure: the company conducts launches in the interest of national security. Luckey's Anduril is also a major Pentagon contractor, developing autonomous systems, electronic warfare capabilities, interceptors, and other military hardware.

The first meeting of Project Meridian leaders was planned immediately after the announcement of the initiative. The Pentagon expects to receive final recommendations in early 2027.

Based on: Axios, Breaking Defense, Fox News