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Pentagon Seeks $50 Billion for Autonomous Warfare as Iran War Casualties Rise and NATO Adapts Strategy
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has requested approximately $50 billion in reconciliation funding to dramatically scale the Pentagon's stockpile of autonomous and robotic systems, aiming to increase units from thousands to millions. This initiative is central to establishing a new, four-star-led Autonomous Warfare Command, a functional combatant command designed to lead the joint force in unmanned autonomous warfare, with Project Agincourt laying the foundational groundwork. Concurrently, the U.S. Army is targeting early 2028 for the deployment of its first high-energy laser counter-drone weapons, such as AeroVironment's LOCUST X3 system, to enhance defensive capabilities.
The Bottom Line
These developments underscore a rapid evolution in global defense, characterized by a significant pivot towards autonomous systems and advanced technologies to address both ongoing conflicts and emerging threats, while also highlighting the persistent human cost and political complexities of modern warfare.
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