Military & Defense
US Army creates FASCOM to accelerate autonomous systems by 2028
An October 1 memorandum directs the creation of FASCOM, changes to Army formations and staffing, and priority autonomous systems fielding by fiscal 2028.
The US Army is establishing the Futures and Autonomous Systems Command (FASCOM) as part of changes to its force structure, acquisition and personnel. Acting Secretary of the Army Adam R. Telle ordered the new command in a memorandum signed on October 1, 2026. The Army announced the decision on October 2.
The directive follows Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s September 30 State of the Force address, which announced an Autonomous Warfare Command and called on the military departments to develop the organisations, procurement approaches and career fields needed to accelerate autonomous warfare.
Six formation areas and a 2028 deadline
Telle’s directive instructs the Army Vice Chief of Staff to establish FASCOM. It also calls for autonomous capabilities in at least six formation areas: aviation, armour, fires, sustainment, engineer and training formations.
A Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Autonomy will be designated to exercise a single acquisition authority and speed procurement of the Army’s priority autonomous capabilities.
The memorandum sets a deadline of no later than fiscal year 2028 for priority acquisition and fielding. Its list includes autonomous fires, combat vehicles, watercraft resupply, breaching systems, reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition, as well as collaborative teaming between crewed and uncrewed platforms.
The personnel measures expand authorisations for 15X Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Specialists and 390A Robotics Technicians across applicable Army units. The Army said the expansion would bring more trained autonomy specialists closer to tactical formations.
The initiative builds on earlier work, including the activation this year of the Capability Program Executive Office for Mission Autonomy, which integrates autonomous technologies across multiple Army portfolios.
“We are done with the bureaucratic inertia holding back modernization,” Telle said. He said the Army was creating the new command “to get cutting-edge technology into the hands of Soldiers”.
