US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has announced the creation of an Autonomous Warfare Command to accelerate the development and deployment of drones, robotics and other autonomous military systems.
The new Pentagon unit, also known as AutoWarCom, is expected to be operational by October 2027. Its role will include purchasing, testing and overseeing the use of the systems by US forces.
Speaking to senior military leaders at Quantico, Virginia, Hegseth said the command would focus on building a supply of affordable autonomous technologies that could give the US an advantage in conflicts around the world.
Owen West, a Department of War official and former Marine, and Max Strasiser, a Navy SEAL test pilot, will lead the initiative temporarily while a four-star officer is selected to take permanent command.
The appointment of a four-star officer would place AutoWarCom on the same level as major US military commands including Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, and AFRICOM, responsible for Africa.
Hegseth attacks US media
Hegseth used the address to renew his criticism of American journalists, after accusing major news organisations of attacking Donald Trump for “political retribution” and suffering from what he called “Trump derangement syndrome”.
“Our so-called press makes Iranian state media look reasonable,” he told the gathering.
He also accused sections of the media of committing a “national betrayal” through their coverage of the unpopular conflict involving Iran.
“Partisan activism that intentionally smears the troops and the historic mission they’re undertaking is fundamentally anti-American. It’s sick. It’s a national betrayal,” Hegseth said.
The Pentagon has increased its focus on autonomous warfare as drone operations have become a defining feature of conflicts this decade. Ukrainian drones have been used extensively against Russian forces, while Iran has fired thousands of homemade drones at the US and Israel during the ongoing war.
The Pentagon’s latest budget request includes $74 billion for drones, according to the announcement, with the department seeking roughly three times the funding previously requested for drone and counter-drone capabilities. The overall request is approximately $1.5 trillion.
Hegseth also announced Project Meridian, a study into the future of warfare and the technologies expected to shape it. SpaceX founder Elon Musk, Anduril founder Palmer Luckey and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will contribute to the project.
A report from the group is due to be submitted within 120 days.
“Drone warfare supercharged by SI-enabled targeting is the biggest battlefield revolution in generations,” Hegseth said, referring to the US administration’s use of “SI”, or super intelligence, for the technology previously known as artificial intelligence.
