Hegseth enlists Musk for Pentagon’s Project Meridian, eyes AI‑driven military supremacy

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. — AFP pic

First Published: Thursday, 01 Oct 2026 2:07 PM MYT

WASHINGTON, Oct 1 — Tech billionaire Elon Musk is set to take a leading role in a new Pentagon project examining the future of warfare, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday, German news agency dpa reported.

Speaking to military personnel at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, Hegseth said Musk would be among several figures leading the initiative, known as Project Meridian.

The project aims to “creatively look into the future and identify the domains we must conquer, and capabilities we must master,” Hegseth said.

The defence secretary also addressed autonomous warfare, meaning the use of weapons systems and artificial intelligence capable of operating and carrying out attacks without direct human intervention.

“We need to be looking forward into the future to achieve technological and military dominance on the battlefield for decades to come,” Hegseth said.

The Pentagon expects the project to produce its findings within 120 days.

Until late May 2025, Musk led the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, the cost-cutting programme set up by US President Donald Trump, through which he implemented significant cuts and job reductions at government agencies. — Bernama-dpa