The U.S. Department of War unveiled six critical technology areas to accelerate American military capabilities and counter rapidly advancing adversaries.
Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael announced the technologies — from artificial intelligence to hypersonic weapons — as imperatives for maintaining battlefield dominance. The announcement signals an aggressive push to modernize U.S. forces amid growing global threats. The technologies aim to deliver immediate capabilities to frontline troops rather than distant promises.
“Our adversaries are moving fast, but we will move faster,” said Michael. “The warfighter is not asking for results tomorrow; they need them today.”
Michael emphasized the urgency: “These six Critical Technology Areas are not just priorities; they are imperatives. The American warfighter will wield the most advanced technology to maximize lethality. This is how the War Department wins wars.”
The six areas include Applied Artificial Intelligence, Biomanufacturing, Contested Logistics Technologies, Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance, Scaled Directed Energy, and Scaled Hypersonics. Each addresses specific battlefield challenges.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth backed the initiative, stating, “Our nation’s military has always been the tip of the spear.”
“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 War Department is committed to remaining the most deadly fighting force on planet Earth,” he continued.
The technologies represent a shift toward immediate battlefield application over theoretical research. Officials positioned the move as essential to outpacing adversaries who continue advancing their own capabilities.
The U.S. Department of War framed the initiative within America’s rich historical legacy of military innovation. From independence battles to twentieth-century victories, technological edges have defined U.S. military success.