Army Memo Directs Creation of FASCOM, Sets Fiscal 2028 Autonomy Goals

Soldier Systems Daily reports that Acting Secretary of the Army Adam R. Telle has signed a memorandum directing the creation of the U.S. Army Futures and Autonomous Systems Command, or FASCOM. It also orders force structure, acquisition and personnel changes aimed at autonomy.

Key points

• Background: the memo follows Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's Sept. 30 State of the Force address, where he announced an Autonomous Warfare Command and asked the military departments to build the organizations, buying methods and career fields autonomy requires.
• Formations: autonomous capabilities will go into at least six types of formations, among them aviation, armor, fires, engineers, sustainment and training.
• Acquisition: the Army will name a Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Autonomy and prioritize autonomous combat vehicles, fires, breaching, watercraft resupply, and reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition systems, plus crewed and uncrewed teaming, by fiscal year 2028 at the latest.
• Prior work: the effort builds on the Army's Capability Program Executive Office for Mission Autonomy, activated earlier this year.
• Personnel: more positions will be authorized for two specialties, 15X Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Specialist and 390A Robotics Technician.

Quick take

Telle said the new command is meant to speed new technology to soldiers and make autonomy a priority in Army units, purchasing and training. The announcement describes the moves as bringing the Army's structure, buying and workforce in line with Hegseth's effort to make autonomous warfare standard across the department.

Read the full story at Soldier Systems Daily.