"Ukraine’s lesson is not that one type of drone wins wars, but rather the need for a purpose-built system that maximizes the ability to adapt," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at Quantico on Sept. 30, laying out a far-reaching plan to reorganize how the Pentagon buys, fields and commands autonomous systems while cutting senior ranks inside the force.
Autonomous Warfare Command (AUTOWARCOM): a new four‑star construct
Hegseth announced plans for a new, four‑star Autonomous Warfare Command — AUTOWARCOM — with “service‑like authorities built to scale autonomous and robotic capabilities across the joint force in the fastest peacetime shift in modern military history.” He said the command would fuse procurement with operations so that “warfighters and engineers and entrepreneurs” can learn, adapt and rapidly iterate on mission domains.
But the secretary acknowledged the creation will take time: a Sept. 30 Pentagon memo says leaders will work with lawmakers to secure the necessary legislation to stand up the command by October 2027. The memo also notes that giving a combatant command acquisition authorities has required congressional approval in the past.
The approach mirrors programs the Pentagon has already begun: Drone Dominance to buy aerial weapons, the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF‑401), and earlier reporting of a Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager (DRPM) for autonomy.
Project Agincourt and the acquisition pivot
As an interim measure, Hegseth said he is changing the autonomy DPRM into “Project Agincourt,” to be led by Defense Innovation Unit head Owen West and Max Strasiser. Project Agincourt will pursue a prototyping construct Hegseth calls “warfighting acquisition,” which fuses operators with entrepreneurs and moves “decisions and dollars” closer to frontline units.
The memo frames Project Agincourt as a bridge to the eventual command, with its leaders expected to help pave the legislative path toward AUTOWARCOM by October 2027.
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See what we buildProject Meridian: outside technologists to map the future of warfare
Hegseth unveiled Project Meridian, a study of the future of warfare he said will be co‑led by Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey and Newt Gingrich. He described the project’s purpose this way: “The future of warfare is not about developing new strategies or new policies... Rather, its purpose is to creatively look to the future and identify the domains that we must conquer and capabilities we must master.”
Per the Pentagon memo, Project Meridian will draw on “top technologists, innovators, business leaders, policy makers, and national security experts” to map future trajectories, identify capability gaps, and propose actionable solutions aligned with the 2026 National Security Science and Technology Strategy. A report from Project Meridian is due Jan. 28, 2027.
FORTRESS America, bases, cadets and chapel reporting
In addition to autonomy initiatives, Hegseth announced several domestic and institutional changes:
- FORTRESS America — a directive for every “major military installation” inside the United States to generate its own power, independent of the civilian grid.
- The “Next Great American Base Site Selection” — a contest‑style effort to create a new military base in the United States, described by Hegseth as run like a competition between states.
- America’s Corps of Cadets — designation of a new group of six Senior Military Colleges.
- The Office of Religious Affairs — an avenue for chaplains to report directly to the Secretary of Defense.
General and flag officer cuts and Congressional pushback
Hegseth used the event to highlight ongoing reductions in senior officers, saying: “The number crunchers say we’ve fired 10 percent of the generals and admirals across the force, and that number sounds about right. And I know, because I directed it, that we’ve also reduced the overall number of general officer slots by an additional 10 percent.” The department previously ordered removal of “redundant force structure” and aimed to cut at least 20 percent of four‑star jobs in the active component and 20 percent of general officers in the National Guard; at the time there were approximately 800 general officers and about 40 four‑stars, per government data and Hegseth.
That campaign has coincided with the exits of several high‑profile general officers cited in the memo, including Gen. CQ Brown, Gen. Randy George, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Gen. James Slife, Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse, Gen. Timothy Haugh and Gen. Christopher Donahue.
Lawmakers signaled resistance. Sen. Jack Reed urged Hegseth to provide oversight committees with written information before further cuts, saying eliminating senior positions now will “add to that strain and disrupt command when continuity matters most.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal called the approach “draconian” and accused the secretary of placing “political loyalty above merit,” promising to “push back” and use congressional tools to respond.
Hegseth’s speech set a tight calendar: Project Meridian’s report is due Jan. 28, 2027, and the Pentagon memo targets October 2027 to have legislation in place to stand up the new command. The plan pairs a sweeping reorganization of how autonomous systems are acquired and commanded with a sustained campaign to thin senior leadership — a combination that will require congressional buy‑in to become institutionalized and will test how rapidly the Pentagon can move from prototype to command in a statutory framework.
