Pentagon to form new autonomous warfare command for drones

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the establishment of a new autonomous warfare command, called Autonomous Warfare Command (Autowarcom), during his State of the Forces speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. This four-star combatant command aims to scale and coordinate drone development and use in overseas operations. Hegseth emphasized the need for high-end kill chains capable of striking unexpectedly and decisively, as reported by <source>.

The Pentagon is requesting $54.6 billion for its Defence Autonomous Warfare Group in the 2027 fiscal year budget, an increase from the current $226 million allocation. Hegseth used the speech to criticize the press, labeling coverage of the Iran war as a "national betrayal" and accusing journalists of being anti-American traitors for reporting on Pentagon actions. His remarks echoed past criticisms of the media, as well as President Donald Trump's claims of treason against media outlets for incorrect reporting.

Additionally, Hegseth addressed his directives to reduce the number of slots for generals and admirals by 20 percent, allowing lower-ranking officers such as Army colonels or Navy captains to fill some positions. He announced his stance against "woke" Pentagon policies and emphasized the importance of having "warriors" instead of "fatties, trannies, beardos, weirdos, wimps, and radicals."