Enable breadcrumbs token at /includes/pageheader.html.twig

Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Outlines 6 Critical Technology Areas

By narrowing the priorities, the Pentagon hopes to deliver cutting-edge capabilities at speed and scale.

Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael announces six critical technology areas for U.S. defense. Credit: Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering's LinkedIn

Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael announced Monday the Pentagon will focus on six critical technology areas—a decrease from the 14 previously outlined—to help the United States maintain a strategic advantage against adversaries.

The six critical technology areas are applied artificial intelligence, biomanufacturing, contested logistics technologies, quantum and battlefield information dominance, scaled directed energy and scaled hypersonics.

In a video, Michael explained the importance of each technology area and how they each will strengthen the U.S. military.

Michael said applying artificial intelligence will transform decision-making and align with President Donald Trump’s artificial intelligence action plan. Biomanufacturing will help eliminate supply chain vulnerabilities.

The goal is for contested logistics technologies to ensure forces can operate and resupply in contested environments, and battlefield information dominance will help warfighters operate in degraded or denied environments, he stated.

Michael said scaled directed energy will deliver cost-effective high-energy solutions, and scaled hypersonics will bring powerful, fast and lethal capabilities to the battlefield.

“These six critical technology areas represent the priorities that will deliver the greatest impact, the fastest results and the most decisive advantage on the battlefield,” Michael said.

Michael emphasized that the goal is to deliver cutting-edge technologies and capabilities at speed and scale, and the hope is that narrowing the priorities will streamline the process.

"Our nation's military has always been the tip of the spear,” Secretary of War Pete 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 War Department is committed to remaining the most deadly fighting force on planet Earth."