Hegseth calls US$1.5 trillion defence budget ‘critical’ to counter China
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has called a nearly US$1.5 trillion defence budget request “absolutely critical”, warning that whoever falls behind in autonomy, robotics and AI will fall “even further behind” as Washington eyes China’s rapid military modernisation. Speaking at a panel discussion during the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition on Wednesday,…
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has emphasized the critical nature of the nearly US$1.5 trillion defence budget request, warning that falling behind in autonomy, robotics, and AI could further detriment US military capabilities against China's rapid modernization. During a panel discussion at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting, Hegseth highlighted Project Agincourt, the Pentagon's initiative to accelerate drone and autonomous warfare capabilities, as the "end state" of the administration's focus since day one.
The proposed budget includes the establishment of an Autonomous Warfare Command by October 1, 2027, and significant investments in autonomous systems, domestic production, and advanced capabilities. Hegseth stressed that the increased budget is a "one-time generational investment" necessary to rebuild the military in response to China's aggressive military modernization.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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