Pete Hegseth Taps Elon Musk and Newt Gingrich to Shape America's Future Wars as Pentagon Cuts Top Military Ranks

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has recruited Elon Musk, Anduril founder Palmer Luckey and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to co-direct Project Meridian, a Pentagon initiative examining the technologies needed for future wars. Hegseth announced the project on 30 September 30 alongside plans to cut the number of generals and admirals, part of a broader reshaping of the military's senior ranks.

The Pentagon says Project Meridian will examine future warfare from subterranean environments to the cislunar frontier, while considering technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced autonomous systems. Hegseth has given the group just 120 days to produce its findings, with an unclassified public report accompanied by a classified annex.

Hegseth Also Moves To Cut Generals And Admirals

The same 30 September announcement included plans to reduce the number of generals and admirals by 20%, alongside a new military base — the first in 40 years — and an Office of Religious Affairs. The moves form part of Hegseth's broader attempt to reshape the US military's leadership structure and priorities.

For the Pentagon, the combination of new technology leadership and a smaller senior officer corps signals a shift in how the department expects to fight future conflicts. Project Meridian's recommendations could influence which emerging technologies receive military funding and how quickly new systems move from commercial development to battlefield deployment.

Musk, Luckey And Gingrich Get 120 Days To Map Future Warfare

Project Meridian will identify the technologies US forces may need to maintain a technological advantage in future conflicts. According to the Pentagon, the project will study future battlefields and recommend capabilities that the military can develop, test and field. Its final findings are due within 120 days of its September 30 launch.

Emil Michael, the Department of War's chief technology officer, is facilitating the initiative. Hegseth has positioned the project alongside a broader effort to make the military more reliant on rapidly developing commercial technologies.

That approach is already visible elsewhere in the Pentagon. Hegseth also announced plans for an Autonomous Warfare Command, a new four-star command intended to accelerate the military's use of drones, artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous systems.

The appointments bring together three figures with very different backgrounds. Musk brings experience in rockets, satellites and artificial intelligence; Luckey runs a major defence technology company already supplying the US government; and Gingrich brings decades of political and national-security experience. Their selection is likely to intensify scrutiny over how closely the Pentagon should work with private technology companies as it attempts to modernise warfare.

The timing reflects recent conflicts that have demonstrated how quickly relatively inexpensive autonomous systems can alter battlefield tactics. Ukraine, for example, has become a major testing ground for drones and rapidly evolving battlefield technology, increasing pressure on militaries to adapt faster.

Why Musk And Luckey Are Central To The Pentagon's Technology Push

Musk's involvement reflects the Pentagon's growing interest in commercial technology. SpaceX, his aerospace company, has become an important US government space contractor, while its satellite network has demonstrated the potential military value of large commercial constellations.

Musk's return to an official advisory role also comes after his previous involvement with the Trump administration through the Department of Government Efficiency. His new assignment is narrower, focusing on long-term warfare rather than broad federal operations.

Luckey brings a more direct defence-industry connection. His company, Anduril Industries, develops autonomous systems, sensors and other military technologies. The Army has already selected an Anduril prototype as part of its Next Generation Command and Control work, according to the Government Accountability Office.

That existing relationship is likely to make questions about industry influence an important part of the project's scrutiny. Musk's companies also have substantial government business, meaning the initiative places prominent technology executives close to discussions that could influence future defence priorities.

A Wider Pentagon Overhaul Is Underway

Project Meridian is only one part of Hegseth's broader attempt to reshape the US military. Its final report could help determine how the US military approaches artificial intelligence, autonomous machines, space-based capabilities and other technologies that are increasingly becoming part of modern warfare.

If the 120-day timetable holds, the Pentagon is expected to receive Project Meridian's recommendations by 28 January 2027, giving the department a concrete blueprint for the next phase of its technology-driven military modernisation.