
\n\n
The Pentagon is rolling out the biggest structural change to its force since 2019: the creation of a four‑star Autonomous Warfare Command (AutoWarCom). Announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sept. 30, 2026 at Quantico, the new combatant command will have service‑like authority to unify research, development, and fielding of drones, AI and autonomous command‑and‑control across all services, with a target stand‑up date of Oct. 1, 2027. Parallel to this, the Army has launched its Futures and Autonomous Systems Command (FASCOM) on Oct. 1, 2026, tasked with integrating autonomy into six key formation areas, expanding specialist MOS slots, and overseeing autonomous fires, combat vehicles, and crew‑uncrewed teaming by FY 2028. The transition effort, called Project Agincourt, is building the required career fields and acquisition pathways before AutoWarCom becomes operational. Congressional proposals are also emerging to tighten human‑in‑the‑loop safeguards for autonomous weapons. Watch next for the upcoming congressional authorization of the command, the first fielding of Army autonomous platforms under FASCOM, and the rollout of legal guard‑rail legislation. [[1, 2, 3]]
