Pentagon creates new 'Autowar' command to expand AI, drone use, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the creation of a new military command, the Autonomous Warfare Command (Autowar), on September 30, 2026.
• The new command will be dedicated to building and providing autonomous and robotic capabilities, including drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI), across the US military.
• This move reflects the Pentagon's strategic shift from costly conventional weapons platforms to cheaper, AI-driven autonomous systems, which have proven decisive in recent conflicts.
• The Autonomous Warfare Command is planned to be fully established by October 1, 2027, and its creation is contingent on Congressional approval.
• The command will be led by a four-star officer and will possess "service-like authorities" to scale autonomous and robotic capabilities.

Detailed Insights:

• The establishment of a new combatant command is a rare event, with the last one being the re-establishment of US Space Command in 2019.
• The initiative aims to accelerate the integration of AI and unmanned systems into military operations, addressing the rapidly changing nature of warfare.
• Secretary Hegseth emphasized that "cheap compute, superintelligence, and advanced commercial manufacturing" have enabled the proliferation of low-cost, high-precision strike capabilities.
• The US military currently operates with 11 combatant commands, which are responsible for various global regions and specific functional tasks.
• The announcement was made during Hegseth's "State of the Force" address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.
• Interim efforts, such as Project Agincourt and Project Meridian, have been launched to prepare for the new command and study future warfighting challenges.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Autonomous Warfare Command (Autowar): A newly announced four-star US combatant command designed to integrate and scale autonomous and robotic capabilities across the military.
• Combatant Commands: Unified commands within the US Department of Defense responsible for broad and continuing military missions, categorized as either geographic or functional.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): The simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, crucial for developing advanced autonomous military systems and decision-making.
• Drones: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or other robotic systems used for military operations, capable of remote control or autonomous functioning.