Driving the news: Hegseth unveiled Meridian during his second speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.
- “We leverage a unique source of American advantage that our adversaries do not have: our innovators, our senior leaders and our technologists – great thinkers and doers who predict the creative solution to tomorrow’s conflicts,” Hegseth said.
- Meridian, he added, is not in the business of producing new policy documents. Instead, it will look at “the areas we must conquer and the capabilities we must master.”
- “Their work will be focused on discovering, developing and fielding the weapons and systems that our children and grandchildren will need in their lifetimes.”
Zoom: Pentagon technology chief Emil Michael will help facilitate the project.
- Michael, speaking to reporters in December about America’s industrial base, said he would like to see “five more Andurils, Palantirs and SpaceX” prosper.
What they say: “Americans have always been at our best when we bring our smartest scientists, engineers and technologists together to solve the toughest national security problems,” Luckey told Axios.
- “Together, we will not only study the wars happening today, but we will also think seriously about the wars we cannot afford to fight in 2030, 2050, and 2100 – and what America must build now to prevent them.”
Follow the money: Musk and Luckey’s respective companies have big contracts with the Pentagon.
- SpaceX serves as the launch backbone for US national security, while Anduril provides jammers, interceptors, rocket engines and robot wingmen.
What’s next: Meridian leaders were scheduled to meet for the first time Wednesday. Final findings are expected in 120 days, Hegseth said.
- A public rollout is planned, as well as a classified report.
Go further: Hegseth to Generals: Embrace the MAGA Army or Resign
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