Senate pushes DOD to create new combatant command for unmanned systems

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s defense policy bill for fiscal 2027 gives the green light for the Defense Department to establish a separate combatant command dedicated to autonomous systems.

SASC’s $1.14 trillion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) “encourages the department to adopt the future of warfare by permitting the establishment of the Robotic and Autonomous Systems Combatant Command,” according to a summary of the draft legislation published Thursday.

If the language is approved by lawmakers, the new command would be led by a four-star general and focus on streamlining acquisition and delivery of unmanned systems to warfighters, according to a senior majority committee staffer who spoke to reporters Thursday on background.

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