US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced the creation of a new military command dedicated to expanding autonomous and robotic capabilities across the US armed forces.
The new Autonomous Warfare Command, also known as AutoWarCom, will focus on technologies including drones, artificial intelligence and other autonomous systems.
Hegseth made the announcement during his “State of the Force” address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Wednesday.
New Command to Lead Autonomous Systems
Hegseth said the new command would be led by a four-star officer. It is intended to accelerate the military’s ability to develop, acquire and deploy autonomous technologies.
Pakistan Wrestlers, Taekwondo Fighter Exit Asian Games
The announcement marks a rare structural change for the US military. The last new combatant command was US Space Command, established in 2019.
The Pentagon currently has 11 combatant commands. They oversee geographic regions or specific military missions.
AutoWarCom will bring greater focus to autonomous and robotic systems across the armed forces. Officials say the command will also have expanded authority to speed up technology acquisition and deployment.
Pentagon Pushes Low-Cost Military Technology
Hegseth said the pace of technological change is outstripping the military’s existing acquisition process.
“The pace of war is changing faster than the process to support it,” he said during the speech.
He also pointed to advances in computing, artificial intelligence and commercial manufacturing.
“Cheap compute, superintelligence, and advanced commercial manufacturing” have enabled the spread of low-cost, high-precision strike capabilities, Hegseth said.
The Pentagon has increasingly focused on cheaper autonomous systems as it reassesses its reliance on expensive conventional weapons platforms. The shift has gained momentum from recent conflicts where drones have played a major role.
The new command is expected to integrate drone technology, AI and command-and-control systems. It is also intended to help overcome procurement delays that can slow the adoption of emerging technologies.
Experts Raise AI Security Concerns
The expansion of military AI has also raised concerns among security experts.
Analysts have warned that unchecked development of autonomous weapons could increase risks in an already competitive global security environment.
The United States and China remain major players in advanced AI development. Security experts in both countries have called for safeguards and greater agreement on the use of AI in military systems, including nuclear weapons.
The debate has intensified as autonomous drones and AI-assisted systems become more common on modern battlefields.
Ukraine Highlights Role of Drones
The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the growing role of relatively inexpensive unmanned systems.
Drones are being used for surveillance, targeting and attacks. Their expanding use has encouraged militaries to reconsider how they develop and deploy weapons.
The Pentagon has therefore sought to increase access to autonomous systems while reducing the time required to move technologies from development into military service.
Hegseth also announced other changes during his Quantico address, including the creation of an Office of Religious Affairs. The initiatives form part of a broader effort to reshape the US military and its approach to technology and force structure.
