<p>War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on September 30, 2026, the creation of a new four-star military command dedicated to autonomous warfare, aimed at enhancing the Pentagon’s use of drones, robotics, and artificial intelligence in military operations.</p>
<p>The Autonomous Warfare Command, referred to as AUTOWARCOM, will be granted “service-like authorities” to expedite the development, procurement, and deployment of autonomous systems within the military, according to Hegseth during his State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.</p>
<p>“Drone warfare supercharged by SI-enabled targeting is the biggest battlefield revolution in generations,” Hegseth stated, using the term “super intelligence” instead of artificial intelligence.</p>
<p>This new command aims to decentralize decision-making regarding emerging technology, allowing those who utilize the technology to have more input, rather than relying on the traditional procurement system of the Pentagon.</p>
<p>Hegseth cited Ukraine as a case study for the need to rapidly adapt autonomous systems to evolving battlefield conditions. He emphasized that the lesson from Ukraine is not about a specific type of drone, but rather the necessity for a system that can adapt effectively.</p>
<p>“We will fuse procurement with operations at scale, and then allow warfighters and engineers and entrepreneurs to learn, adapt, and rapidly iterate on their domain and their mission,” he added.</p>
<p>Additionally, Hegseth announced the launch of Project Agincourt, which will serve as a preliminary initiative to prepare for AUTOWARCOM. This project will facilitate closer collaboration between military operators and technology companies, while also reallocating purchasing authority and funding to combatant commands and front-line units. Training and combat exercises will be utilized to evaluate technology and expand successful systems.</p>
<p>Hegseth described this approach as “warfighting acquisition,” in contrast to traditional procurement methods centered at the Pentagon. He stated, “By removing unnecessary layers, reducing the distance between our warfighters and our world-leading innovators, and then giving the right people the authority to act, Project Agincourt will pilot innovation at the edge in a way that only Americans can do.”</p>
<p>He announced that former Assistant Defense Secretary Owen West and Navy SEAL Senior Chief Max Strasiser will lead Project Agincourt over the next year, with plans to appoint a four-star officer to lead AUTOWARCOM in the future.</p>
<p>“Theirs is going to be a CEO-COO partnership,” Hegseth remarked about the leaders of Project Agincourt, noting West’s focus on strategic risk and resources, and Strasiser’s emphasis on operational problem-solving in combat.</p>
<p>The project will also explore the implications of autonomous systems on military equipment, doctrine, and organization, with plans to establish new occupational frameworks for personnel specializing in autonomous warfare.</p>
<p>Hegseth indicated that this initiative builds upon the Pentagon’s existing Drone Dominance program and Task Force 401, which are designed to reduce procurement delays and expedite the integration of autonomous technology into military units.</p>
<p>“Today, with Autonomous War Command, AUTOWARCOM, we institutionalize and we supercharge the era of SI robotics and autonomous systems, all in order to win,” he concluded.</p>