The Pentagon’s Project Meridian, co-led by Elon Musk, Anduril founder Palmer Luckey and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, will deliver a public report with a classified annex by Jan. 28, 2027. The 120 day study will identify where future wars may be fought and what weapons and technologies the US military will need, with potential domains ranging from underground combat to space around the moon.

Pentagon Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael is facilitating the review, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Hegseth said the study is explicitly not intended to set new strategy or policy. The Pentagon’s technology office said maintaining the US advantage in space will be part of its work.

The Pentagon also plans to seek legislation from Congress to establish the separately announced Autonomous Warfare Command. Its unmanned systems office, under Owen West and Max Strasiser, will build the new four star combatant command, scheduled for Oct. 1, 2027, to expand autonomous and robotic capabilities across the military.