Technology billionaire Elon Musk is set to return to an official advisory role in the US government, after being named co-leader of a Pentagon project examining the future of warfare.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the initiative, known as Project Meridian, during a speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

Hegseth said the project would bring together leading innovators, senior officials and technology experts to examine emerging threats and identify military capabilities the United States would need in future conflicts.

Musk will co-lead the project alongside Palmer Luckey, co-founder of defence technology company Anduril Industries, and former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Hegseth said the project would focus on identifying, developing and deploying weapons and systems required for future battlefields, with its findings expected to be submitted within 120 days.

The initiative marks Musk’s first official government role since he left the Department of Government Efficiency DOGE in May 2025 following a public dispute with President Donald Trump.

Musk had previously supported Trump’s return to the White House and became a prominent figure in the administration after being appointed to lead DOGE, an initiative established to reduce government spending and restructure federal agencies.

The relationship between Musk and Trump later deteriorated over disagreements surrounding the President’s spending legislation, although Musk subsequently resumed support for Republican candidates and conservative political groups.

Project Meridian will also involve selected private-sector leaders and experts from technology, academia and policy fields.

The Pentagon said the project would examine future warfare across multiple domains and help identify capabilities that could shape US military strategy and technology in the coming decades.

Musk’s involvement also comes as his companies maintain significant business relationships with the US government, including SpaceX’s national-security launch contracts, while Luckey’s Anduril supplies defence technologies to the Pentagon.

The Pentagon is expected to make the project’s findings available publicly while also producing a classified report.