DoD to establish four‑star autonomous warfare command – tracking creation

The Department of Defense is establishing a four-star combatant command to centralize the military's autonomous and robotic capabilities, a move intended to accelerate the fielding of artificial intelligence and drone systems [1][3]. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the creation of the Autonomous Warfare Command (AutoWarCom) on September 30, 2026, stating that current acquisition speeds are insufficient to match technological shifts observed in global conflicts [2][3]. The new command is scheduled to begin operations in October 2027 [2].

AutoWarCom will hold service-like authorities to scale drones and command-and-control systems across the joint force [1][3]. To bridge the gap until the command is fully established, the Pentagon is implementing Project Agincourt, an interim initiative designed to overhaul how autonomous weapons are tested and acquired [2][10]. This follows the June 2026 consolidation of unmanned systems under a new Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems [3].

A Department of Defense directive would officially establish the command's structure and authorities. The passage of the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes Section 917 to authorize a Robotic and Autonomous Systems Combatant Command, would provide the necessary legislative framework [5][6].

Congressional approval of the $1.14 trillion spending bill would secure the required funding for the command's stand-up [5]. The President would then nominate a four-star officer to lead the organization, subject to Senate confirmation. The Department of Defense would subsequently declare the command operational, currently targeted for October 2027 [2].