Pentagon Details New Acquisition Model for Autonomous Warfare – MeriTalk

Pentagon Details New Acquisition Model for Autonomous Warfare  MeriTalk

The DOD plans to pair technology companies with operational military units and use field performance to determine which autonomous systems receive further investment. The Department of Defense (DOD) is detailing a new acquisition model for autonomous warfare that would connect robotics companies directly with military units and tie future investments to demonstrated battlefield performance. Under the Trump administration, the DOD was rebranded as the Department of War. The approach is outlined in an Oct. 19 letter from Owen West and Max Strasiser. Project Agincourt is an initiative Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth established last month to accelerate the military’s adoption of autonomous and robotic systems. “Evidence will decide outcomes. Competitions, exercises and combat performance will determine which systems scale, and which are cut,” West and Strasiser wrote.

“The power of the purse demands strict stewardship.” Project Agincourt is expected to culminate in the creation of a four-star Autonomous Warfare Command (AUTOWARCOM) by Oct. 1, 2027, according to the letter. When announcing the initiative, Hegseth introduced a prototyping approach called “warfighting acquisition,” which is designed to bring military operators together with entrepreneurs and move acquisition decisions and funding closer to frontline units. Under that model, the Pentagon plans to work with the Joint Staff, military services, and operational units to evaluate emerging technologies and identify systems suitable for broader deployment. The Oct.