War Department refocuses on AI, hypersonics and directed energy in major strategy overhaul

By Fox News · Fox News

EXCLUSIVE – The War Department is narrowing its research and development strategy to six "Critical Technology Areas" officials say will speed up innovation and strengthen America’s military edge. Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael said the plan will deliver faster, more focused results to the warfighter by merging overlapping programs and steering funding toward technologies that will shape future conflicts. "As the Department of War’s Chief Technology Officer, I am statutorily charged with the mission of advancing technology and innovation for the armed forces," Michael wrote in a Nov. 13 memorandum to senior Pentagon and combatant command leadership. "The previous list of fourteen CTAs did not provide the focus that the threat environment of today requires." The six areas — Applied Artificial Intelligence, Biomanufacturing, Contested Logistics Technologies, Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance, Scaled Directed Energy and Scaled Hypersonics — will be advanced through rapid "sprints" designed to move emerging technologies from prototype to production. ARMY SECRETARY REVEALS HOW RANGERS BYPASS PENTAGON RED TAPE TO COUNTER EXPLODING DRONE THREAT Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the streamlined approach will keep the United States ahead of its rivals. "Our nation’s military has always been the tip of the spear," Hegseth said. "Under Secretary Emil Michael’s six Critical Technology Areas will ensure that our warriors never enter a fair fight and have the best systems in their hands for maximum lethality." The initiative also aligns with President Donald Trump’s Artificial Intelligence Action Plan, which directs the War Department to become an "AI-First" organization. Officials say the shift will reshape how intelligence is processed, how logistics are managed and how weapons systems are deployed. "In alignment with President Trump’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan, the Department of War must become an ‘AI-First’ organiz…