---
title: "Elon Musk to Join Pentagon Structure to Study Future Warfare, Says Hegseth"
description: "US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the creation of an autonomous warfare command, involving Elon Musk in shaping future military strategies."
date: 2026-09-30T22:44:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/elon-musk-pentagon-autonomous-warfare-hegset
tags: [elon-musk, pentagon, pete-hegseth, auto-warfare, usa]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Elon Musk to Join Pentagon Structure to Study Future Warfare, Says Hegseth

![Elon Musk and Pete Hegseth with Pentagon background](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/30/elon-musk-pentagon-autonomous-warfare-hegset/elon-musk-pentagon-autonomous-warfare-hegset-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Pentagon creates Autonomous Warfare Command (AutoWarCom)
- Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey assigned to Project Meridian
- Full operation of the command scheduled for October 2027
- Core goal is rapid deployment of low-cost drones following Ukraine's experience

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, during a keynote address at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, made a resonant statement regarding a large-scale transformation of the American defense department. The creation of a new Autonomous Warfare Command (AutoWarCom) was announced, with its key task being a radical overhaul of approaches to procurement, testing, and the rapid deployment of drones, robotics, and other advanced military technologies.

According to the US Secretary of Defense, this initiative is designed to ensure the fastest peacetime transition in modern military history. It is planned that the newly established command will become fully operational in October 2027. Prominent tech entrepreneurs and experts, including SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk, Anduril founder Palmer Luckey, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, have been tasked with studying future warfare.

As part of this large-scale strategy, a special undertaking called "Project Meridian" is being launched. This initiative, overseen directly by the Pentagon, aims to generate new ideas on how future generations will fight. The participants are required to present their findings and strategic recommendations within 120 days.

### Personnel Composition and Key Tasks of the New Command

To implement these ambitious plans, Pete Hegseth is initially engaging experienced professionals with unique backgrounds. The initial team includes Owen West, a former Marine, assistant secretary of defense, and Goldman Sachs trader, alongside Max Strassizer, a test pilot from the US Navy SEAL unit who specialized in developing robotic systems for combat operations.

The primary objective is the accelerated creation of a supply chain for low-cost unmanned systems in the US so that America can adapt to the realities of warfare as quickly as Ukraine has demonstrated, West noted in an interview. Implementing artificial intelligence will ensure the US remains ahead of the entire global community.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Маск войдет в структуру Пентагона и будет изучать будущие способы ведения войны, - Хегсет](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/mask-uviyde-strukturi-pentagonu-i-vivchatime-1790807336.html) - Основной источник новости с подробностями выступления Пита Хегсета в Квантико.
- [Министр обороны США Хегсет заявил, что война в Иране уже обошлась Вашингтону в 37,5 млрд долларов](https://www.bbc.com/russian/articles/cy0j92l6r7po) - Контекстный источник по заявлениям министра обороны США Хегсета.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What role will Elon Musk play in the Pentagon?
**A:** Elon Musk has been tasked, alongside other experts, with studying future warfare methods under Project Meridian.

### Q: When will the new autonomous warfare command begin operations?
**A:** The AutoWarCom command is scheduled to become fully operational in October 2027.