Unit X (book)
| Author | Raj M. Shah and Christopher Kirchhoff |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Defense Innovation Unit, military technology, Pentagon reform |
| Genre | Non‑fiction |
| Publisher | Scribner |
Publication date | 2024 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print, e‑book |
| Pages | 336 |
| Awards | Shortlisted – 2024 Financial Times Business Book of the Year |
| ISBN | 9781668031384 |
Unit X is a non‑fiction account of the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit, an organization established in 2015 to break through Pentagon bureaucracy and connect the U.S. military with modern technologies from Silicon Valley. The authors, Raj M. Shah and Christopher Kirchhoff, led a reboot of the unit. The book's timeline spans from middle 2010s till the 2023-2024. It describes how the unit sourced innovations, AI‑powered drones, autonomous flying vehicles and microsatellites, from startups and small private companies in contrast to big military tech firms working with Pentagon for decades. The authors also describe battles with congressional assistants in Washington D.C. and Pentagon officials who wanted to protect established inefficient procurement processes.
The book was shortlisted in 2024 Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award.