WASHINGTON — The Army Futures and Autonomous Systems Command will be established alongside a new autonomy-focused acquisition office as the service elevates unmanned and AI-enabled capabilities, according to an Army spokesperson and an internal memo signed by Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle.
The moves, first detailed publicly this week, follow Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recently announced Pentagon initiatives to stand up a four-star Autonomous Warfare Command, or AUTOWARCOM, focused on drones and related technologies, as well as a new working group on the future of defense.
In a Thursday memorandum titled “Army Autonomous Initiatives,” Telle directed the creation of the Army Futures and Autonomous Systems Command, known as FASCOM. In a statement, Telle said the Army is pushing to accelerate modernization and deliver cutting-edge technology to soldiers, with a particular focus on integrating autonomy in formations, acquisitions and training to sustain a battlefield advantage.
The memo also creates a new Program Acquisition Executive for Autonomy. At present, the Army’s autonomy portfolio sits under Capability Portfolio Executive Mission Autonomy within the Program Acquisition Executive for Layered Protection and Integration. The new PAE will consolidate and prioritize autonomy efforts across the service.
According to the memo, the Army will conduct new autonomous force development to align force structure with emerging capabilities across aviation, armored, sustainment and training formations. The new PAE is directed to prioritize the acquisition and fielding of autonomous fires, combat vehicles, watercraft resupply, and manned-unmanned teaming capabilities by no later than fiscal 2028.
The order also instructs the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs to expand authorizations for the 15X tactical unmanned aircraft systems specialist and the 390A robotics technician specialist to all applicable Army units.
These steps, paired with Hegseth’s plan for AUTOWARCOM, are part of a broader campaign to scale drone production and push autonomous systems to operational units. Related efforts include the Drone Dominance program to procure additional aerial weapons, the Army-led Joint Interagency Task Force 401, and the creation of a Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for autonomy.
Army Futures and Autonomous Systems Command
FASCOM is intended to centralize development and rapid fielding of autonomy, enabling faster integration of unmanned platforms, collaborative teaming between manned and unmanned systems, and support for logistics and fires that leverage autonomous functions.