The U.S. military has announced the formation of a new command called the Autonomous Warfare Command, commonly referred to as AUTOWARCOM. This command will be responsible for managing drones, robots, and other autonomous systems used by all branches of the military. The initiative was announced by Pete Hegseth, who holds the newly reintroduced position of Secretary of War, a role brought back by the Trump administration in 2025. The command is set to become operational on October 1, 2027, after receiving approval from Congress. It will be led by a four-star general and will have its own personnel, budget, and authority to procure equipment. The creation of AUTOWARCOM highlights the changing landscape of modern warfare. Hegseth emphasized that "the pace of war is evolving faster than the process designed to support it." He pointed to the Russo-Ukrainian conflict as a case study, arguing that the U.S. military's reliance on expensive, limited-production weapons is no longer effective. Instead, the focus is shifting toward developing large numbers of affordable drones that can be quickly modified and are more costly for enemies to destroy. In preparation for Congress's approval, the Pentagon has launched a project named Agincourt, after the 1415 Battle of Agincourt. The project is managed by the DRPM-UxS, a bureau established in late June 2026. Agincourt aims to improve military procurement by bringing together military personnel, engineers, and private companies to make decisions and allocate funds as close as possible to the units on the ground. Systems will be tested in exercises or in real combat situations when feasible, with only the most effective ones being mass-produced. Owen West, a former Marine and former head of the Defense Innovation Unit, and Max Strasiser, a Navy SEAL with expertise in robotic systems, are leading the Agincourt project. Meanwhile, Hegseth has launched the Meridian project, a 120-day study on the future weapons needs of the U.S. military. The study is co-directed by Elon Musk of SpaceX, Palmer Luckey of Anduril, and Newt Gingrich, a former Republican House Speaker. However, the involvement of Musk and Luckey, who already have multi-billion-dollar contracts with the Pentagon, has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. At this point, AUTOWARCOM has not yet been assigned a commander, budget, or personnel. A memorandum signed by Hegseth gives the DRPM-UxS 30 days to submit an action plan and schedule, with support from the Joint Chief of Staff. The full implementation of the command remains dependent on these developments.