WASHINGTON — Pentagon research chief Emil Michael today formally announced a previously promised purge of tech priorities. By slashing a Biden-era list of “critical technology areas” (CTAs) in half, Michael aims to focus resources on key R&D projects and accelerate them into “sprints” that produce usable technology in three years or less.
“When I stepped into this role, our office had identified 14 critical technology areas,” Michael said in a video announcement on X. “While each of these areas holds value, such a broad list dilutes focus and fails to highlight the most urgent needs of the war fighter. Fourteen priorities in truth means no priorities at all.”
“We’re narrowing this list to six,” he continued. “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.”
The potential for quick results was a crucial consideration in picking the priorities, explained Research & Engineering official Trevor Tiedeman.
“Under Secretary Michael reviewed the prior list of 14 CTAs against three criteria: alignment with Secretary Hegseth’s priorities, suitability for milestone based ‘sprints’ to deliver capabilities, and the requirement for Under Secretary-level coordination to support cross-Departmental efforts,” Tiedeman wrote in a Monday evening email to Breaking Defense. (Hegseth and his team have pushed to devolve authority from the Office of the Secretary, which handles those “cross-departmental efforts,” to the services).
“R&E is galvanizing the War Department around 12–36-month technology development and delivery ‘sprints,’” Tiedeman went on. “This approach directs funding toward the most urgent national security priorities.”
Turning R&D into reality to meet the challenges of the modern battlefield
Knowing when to build on commercial systems and when to develop something new can be the difference between parity and information dominance.
The New Big Six
The new list, meant to bring speed and focus to research spending, comprises:
Applied Artificial Intelligence (AAI): This category covers AI from back-office business functions to frontline warfighting, DoD said the priority on AI is “aligned with the White House AI Action Plan,” which envisions a zero-sum AI race between the US and China. (A recent reorganization brought the Pentagon’s Chief Digital & AI Office, the CDAO, under Michael’s direct control).
Biomanufacturing (BIO): This refers to “harnessing living systems” for mass production of key materials. In essence, biomanufacturing brews vital chemicals, like lubricants or anti-corrosion coatings, in giant vats of genetically engineered microorganisms, instead of using traditional petrochemical processes, which have been increasingly outsourced overseas. This could “eliminate any supply chain vulnerabilities,” Michael said.
Contested Logistics Technologies (LOG): Less a specific technology than a broad mission, LOG refers to using whatever tech can help “ensure seamless resupply and operational continuity in contested environments.” It’s worth noting that the term “contested,” in Pentagon jargon, applies particularly to the Pacific during a war with China.
Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance (Q-BID): “Dominance” requires improving both longstanding radio-frequency tech and emerging quantum technologies to help US forces communicate and navigate. Officials have said for over a decade that they’re particularly concerned about the potential for traditional GPS and radio to be jammed by a high-tech adversary like Russia or China.
Scaled Hypersonics (SHY): “Scaling” means moving hypersonic missiles from the current array of small-scale prototypes to mass production. Hypersonic systems can move at Mach 5 or higher within the atmosphere, making them faster than current cruise missiles and more agile than ballistic missiles. For years, US officials have warned Russia and China are investing heavily and testing more frequently.
Scaled Directed Energy (SCADE): Much as in hypersonics, scaling “directed energy” means moving high-energy lasers and microwave-beam weapons from the promising small-scale demonstrations into mass production. The Pentagon, like other global militaries, hopes energy weapons could take effectively unlimited shots against incoming drone swarms and missile barrages that could overwhelm existing defenses such as Patriot and THAAD.
That list of six replaces an older list that included eight other CTAs [PDF] now cut, but many specific initiatives will be folded under one of the new big six.
“Previous CTAs, such as FutureG, Integrated Sensing & Cyber, and Quantum, are being consolidated and leveraged under the new Quantum & Battlefield Information Dominance (Q-BID) portfolio,” Tiedeman wrote.
The old “FutureG” was a catchall for next-generation wireless technologies. Other former CTA portfolios that might provide candidates for consolidation under Q-BID include “Integrated Network Systems” and “Space.”
Likewise, aspects of “Advanced Computing and Software” and “Human Machine Interfaces” could continue under Applied AI. Programs now under “Microelectronics” and “Advanced Materials” could fit in multiple categories. Even “Renewable Energy” — not a favorite topic of the Trump Administration — could see some projects move under Contested Logistics or Biomanufacturing.
At the very least, Michael is keeping the current cadre of experts who’ve been serving as “principal directors” for each of the 14 old critical technologies. (Some of these officials handled two CTAs at once).
“We can confirm that none of our Principal Directors are being reassigned out of R&E,” Tiedeman said. “R&E will continue to strategically invest in a broad set of technologies outside the focused list of CTAs to sustain innovation.”
The new big six, however, will now receive the lion’s share of high-level attention, the under secretary made clear.
“These critical technology areas are actionable, tangible solutions to the challenges that our warfighters face today. They are driven by focused sprints, designed to deliver results in the now, not in 15 years,” Michael said in his video announcement. “These priorities will ensure that our war fighters never face a fair fight.”
Updated at 8:50 pm with additional details from Research & Engineering official Trevor Tiedeman.