The Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, Emil Michael, has announced six Critical Technology Areas (CTAs) intended to shape the future capabilities of the United States military. These areas focus on advancing technologies to ensure that American forces maintain a technological advantage over adversaries.
Emil Michael stated, "Our adversaries are moving fast, but we will move faster. The warfighter is not asking for results tomorrow; they need them today. 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 CTAs identified include Applied Artificial Intelligence (AAI), Biomanufacturing (BIO), Contested Logistics Technologies (LOG), Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance (Q-BID), Scaled Directed Energy (SCADE), and Scaled Hypersonics (SHY). According to the department, these areas were selected to address key challenges on modern battlefields and provide immediate benefits to service members.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also commented on the announcement: "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."
The department says this initiative continues a long tradition of leveraging innovation for national defense, from early battles for independence through more recent conflicts in the twentieth century. Officials state that prioritizing these technology areas will help deliver new capabilities directly to military personnel and support U.S. technological leadership into the future.
