Autonomous Warfare Command and Project Agincourt Explained
The Autonomous Warfare Command is a planned four-star command meant to drive the design, development and fielding of autonomous and semi-autonomous systems, with a target of October 1, 2027 to establish it.
Project Agincourt is the year-long step to prototype an acquisition model, coordinate with the services and develop the implementation plan.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the command on September 30, 2026, in his State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, and a memo of the same day sets the pathway. This page compares DefenseScoop, Air & Space Forces Magazine and Greenberg Traurig.
The command has not been established, and some of the budget and acquisition authorities described may require legislation.
What the Autonomous Warfare Command and Project Agincourt Are
The Autonomous Warfare Command, also designated AutoWarCom or AUTOWARCOM, is a proposed four-star military organization intended to fuse procurement with operations at scale for drones, AI and command and control systems. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the planned organization on September 30, 2026, during an address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.
A memo dated September 30, 2026, described by Greenberg Traurig, sets a pathway to establish the command by October 1, 2027.
Project Agincourt is the interim, year-long step meant to clear the path for the command. Its team will write the implementation plan and prototype an acquisition model that links operators with entrepreneurs. DefenseScoop reported that Hegseth said the command would have "service-like authorities" to speed adoption of autonomous and robotic assets across the joint force.
Air & Space Forces Magazine described it as a new four-star combatant command whose portfolio is drones, AI and command and control systems, and noted that its structure, leadership and integration with existing service autonomy efforts are not yet clear.
Air & Space Forces Magazine reports the Senate proposed the command in the 2027 defense policy bill; it cleared committee, and the bill is pending and needs House approval.
Who Leads Project Agincourt
Project Agincourt is led by the direct reporting portfolio manager for unmanned systems (DRPM-UxS), with Owen West and Navy SEAL Senior Chief Max Strasiser. West currently serves as director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and focuses on strategic risk, resources and scale. Strasiser, currently at DRPM-UxS, focuses on operational problem-solving.
Air & Space Forces Magazine reports that Project Agincourt draws on the Defense Innovation Unit and the Drone Dominance program. Hegseth said the command would take shape "over the course of several months." Greenberg Traurig says the office is intended to stay small, with most acquisition funding and execution remaining with the military departments.
Hegseth said a four-star commander will be named soon. Greenberg Traurig notes the commander would need Senate confirmation. No commander has been named in the three sources.
What Project Agincourt Is Asked to Do
The memo gives DRPM-UxS five responsibilities, listed below. For how acquisition works today, see how defense procurement works.
- Develop the implementation plan for the proposed Autonomous Warfare Command.
- Recommend Joint Force investment allocations and resource shifts.
- Coordinate with the military services on manpower, requirements and force structure.
- Prototype a new acquisition process that connects operators, developers, and manufacturers, focusing on rapid testing and fielding.
- Report directly to senior leadership on progress and required decisions.
What the Autonomous Warfare Command Is Meant to Own
Air & Space Forces Magazine describes the command's portfolio as drones, AI and command and control systems. The stated intent is to fuse procurement with operations at scale.
Greenberg Traurig lists three sets of organizations involved. DRPM-UxS handles technology development and development testing. Joint Task Force Autonomous Warfare (JTF-AW) handles operational testing, training and deployment. Service-level acquisition organizations handle most procurement execution.
| Organization | Role in the sources |
|---|---|
| Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS) | Develops the implementation plan, coordinates with the services, prototypes an acquisition process linking operators, developers and manufacturers, and handles technology development and development testing |
| Joint Task Force Autonomous Warfare (JTF-AW) | Operational testing, training and deployment |
| Military Departments | Retain most acquisition funding and execution (Greenberg Traurig); each is phasing in new MOS frameworks (DefenseScoop) |
| Autonomous Warfare Command (AUTOWARCOM) | Proposed four-star command (Air & Space Forces Magazine calls it a combatant command) meant to drive the design, development and fielding of autonomous systems; Hegseth said it would have service-like authorities, and SOCOM-style budget and acquisition authorities may require legislation |
The Timeline From Announcement to Stand-Up
Greenberg Traurig, DefenseScoop and Air & Space Forces Magazine support these dated milestones.
| Date or timeframe | Documented action or target | Source citation |
|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2026 | Secretary Pete Hegseth announces the Autonomous Warfare Command in his State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia (DefenseScoop); Air & Space Forces Magazine reports the unveiling the same day | DefenseScoop, Air & Space Forces Magazine |
| September 30, 2026 | A memo dated this day sets a pathway to establish the command by October 1, 2027 | Greenberg Traurig, Air & Space Forces Magazine |
| October 1, 2026 | Acting Secretary of the Army Adam Telle issues guidance directing the establishment of the U.S. Army Futures and Autonomous Systems Command | Greenberg Traurig |
| Over the course of several months | Hegseth said the command would take shape over the course of several months | Air & Space Forces Magazine |
| October 1, 2027 | Target date to establish the Autonomous Warfare Command (DefenseScoop gives the date; Greenberg Traurig and Air & Space Forces Magazine tie it to the memo) | DefenseScoop, Greenberg Traurig, Air & Space Forces Magazine |
| Fiscal Year 2028 (FY28) | U.S. Army target to accelerate fielding of autonomous fires, combat vehicles, watercraft resupply, breaching systems, reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition systems, and manned-unmanned teaming | Greenberg Traurig |
What May Need Congressional Action
Greenberg Traurig says the president may establish the command under existing authority in 10 U.S.C. 161, with notice to Congress required within 60 days, and cites U.S. Space Command, re-established in 2019, as a precedent. The Special Operations Command-style budget and acquisition authorities described may require legislation. DefenseScoop reports the department plans to work with Congress to obtain the legislation needed to create the command.
Air & Space Forces Magazine reports that Senate lawmakers proposed the command in the 2027 defense policy bill, which cleared committee but is pending and needs House approval. Greenberg Traurig describes Section 917 of the Senate Armed Services Committee's FY27 NDAA as authorizing a U.S. Robotic and Autonomous Systems Command (RASCOM), with its own budget line, service component commands, career fields and operational test authority.
The sources do not say whether RASCOM and the Autonomous Warfare Command are the same organization.
Greenberg Traurig says Section 917 has more limited acquisition authority than Agincourt. It appears only in the Senate version, and whether it is included in the final NDAA is unresolved.
How the Services Are Responding
On October 1, 2026, Acting Secretary of the Army Adam Telle issued guidance, as described by Greenberg Traurig, directing the Army to establish the U.S. Army Futures and Autonomous Systems Command.
The Army guidance directs accelerated fielding by FY28 of autonomous fires, combat vehicles, watercraft resupply, breaching systems, reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition systems and manned-unmanned teaming.
DefenseScoop reports that new military occupational specialty (MOS) frameworks are being phased in across each military department to support the shift to autonomy, and Air & Space Forces Magazine says each service will phase in new autonomy-related specialties.
Hegseth also announced Project Meridian, commissioned by Pentagon CTO Emil Michael and co-directed by Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey and Newt Gingrich, to identify the domains and technologies the military must master.
What Remains Unsettled
DefenseScoop, Air & Space Forces Magazine and Greenberg Traurig leave these points unpublished or unresolved:
| Open question | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Four-star commander | Hegseth said a four-star commander will be named soon; Greenberg Traurig says Senate confirmation would be needed. |
| Headquarters location | No headquarters location is named in the sources. |
| Dedicated program budget | None of the three sources gives a budget line or appropriation request. |
| Vendor contracts and industry awards | None of the three sources names a contract award, vendor or company tied to Project Agincourt. |
| Relationship between AUTOWARCOM and RASCOM | Described in different sources (Air & Space Forces Magazine on the Senate proposal, Greenberg Traurig on Section 917). The sources do not say whether they are the same organization. |
| Structure, leadership and integration with existing service autonomy efforts | Air & Space Forces Magazine says these are not yet clear. |
| Force size and drone quantities | DefenseScoop gives no force-size figures and Air & Space Forces Magazine gives no drone quantities for the command. |
What Would Change This Reading
For a reader tracking the sector as an analyst or investor, the supported reading is that this is an organizational and authority change with a date, not yet a funded program with named contracts: DefenseScoop, Air & Space Forces Magazine and Greenberg Traurig's legal reading of the memo publish no budget, no contract award and no commander.
This page compares those three accounts. The picture would change if Congress includes or drops Section 917 in the final NDAA, if a commander is named, or if a budget line appears in the United States defense budget. The earlier autonomous-systems effort is covered in Replicator initiative explained.
Guides FAQs
What is the Autonomous Warfare Command?
A planned four-star command meant to drive the design, development and fielding of autonomous and semi-autonomous systems, fusing procurement with operations at scale. Hegseth announced it on September 30, 2026, and a memo sets a target of October 1, 2027 to establish it. It has not been established yet.
What is Project Agincourt?
Project Agincourt is the interim, year-long effort to clear the path for the command. A memo dated September 30, 2026 (described by Greenberg Traurig) directs DRPM-UxS, with Owen West, director of the Defense Innovation Unit, and Navy SEAL Senior Chief Max Strasiser, to develop the implementation plan and prototype an acquisition process that links operators, developers and manufacturers.
When will the Autonomous Warfare Command be established?
A memo sets a target of October 1, 2027 to establish the command. The department plans to work with Congress to obtain the legislation needed to create the command, and Air & Space Forces Magazine says the stand-up date is pending that work.
Who leads Project Agincourt?
Project Agincourt is led by Owen West, the director of the Defense Innovation Unit, and Navy SEAL Senior Chief Max Strasiser, currently at the direct reporting portfolio manager for unmanned systems (DRPM-UxS). West focuses on strategic risk, resources, and scale, while Strasiser focuses on operational problem-solving.
Does the Autonomous Warfare Command need Congress?
Some of it may. Greenberg Traurig says the president may establish the command under existing authority in 10 U.S.C. 161, with notice to Congress required within 60 days. SOCOM-style budget and acquisition authorities may require legislation, and the department plans to work with Congress to obtain it.
Section 917 of the Senate Armed Services Committee's FY27 NDAA, which would authorize a Robotic and Autonomous Systems Command (RASCOM), appears only in the Senate version.
Who will command the Autonomous Warfare Command?
No commander has been named in the sources. Hegseth said a four-star commander will be named soon, and Greenberg Traurig says the commander would need Senate confirmation.
Is Project Agincourt the same as the Battle of Agincourt?
No. Project Agincourt is the Pentagon effort described above, not the 1415 battle. The three sources do not explain why the name was chosen.