SOUTHCOM launches first autonomous warfare command in Latin America

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The U.S. military is launching a brand new autonomous warfare command to deploy cutting-edge unmanned techniques throughout Latin America, marking a first-of-its-kind transfer by a combatant command.

U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) commander Gen. Francis Donovan mentioned Tuesday he ordered the creation of the SOUTHCOM Autonomous Warfare Command to assist national security priorities and regional efforts.

"From the seafloor to house and throughout the cyber area, we totally intend to leverage the clear superiority of the American protection ecosystem by deploying cutting-edge innovation and dealing ever nearer with our enduring companions within the area to outmatch those that threaten our collective peace and safety," Donovan mentioned in a press release.

Based on SOUTHCOM, the brand new command will make use of " autonomous, semi-autonomous, and unmanned platforms and techniques to counter threats and challenges throughout domains, linking tactical missions to long-term strategic results."

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Gen. Francis Donovan, head of U.S. Southern Command, mentioned the army is advancing using drones and autonomous techniques in regional operations. (Brendan SMIALOWSKI/AFP by way of Getty Photos)

SAWC can even work with U.S. allies within the area and advance missions together with targeting narcoterrorist and cartel networks and responding to large-scale pure disasters.

Donovan mentioned the area is well-suited for innovation and collaboration with companions.

"Our geographic space of accountability has a variety of situations, diverse terrain, and numerous operational environments that make it a perfect setting through which to innovate. It is usually a area with very succesful and dedicated safety companions who lean ahead, embrace applied sciences and are very wanting to work collaboratively with us to assist regional stability in new and efficient methods," he mentioned.

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U.S. Southern Command is increasing using drones and autonomous techniques because it launches a brand new warfare unit, officers mentioned. (U.S. Southern Command)

SOUTHCOM is answerable for army operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, together with counter-narcotics missions geared toward disrupting drug trafficking networks that threaten U.S. pursuits.

The U.S. army has carried out dozens of strikes in current months on suspected drug-smuggling vessels as a part of a broader marketing campaign to dismantle cartel-linked trafficking operations.

In a written posture assertion to Congress earlier this yr, Donovan mentioned he aimed to leverage emerging technologies , telling lawmakers he meant "to capitalize on subsequent technology capabilities like unmanned platforms, AI integration, and industrial instruments to higher allow us and our companions to counter … threats collectively."

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In March, Donovan advised an Armed Companies Committee member he aimed to construct cost-effective, modernized forces for SOUTHCOM’s mission, together with autonomous systems and human-machine teaming, "to tremendously improve lethality, all-domain consciousness, and knowledge sharing for U.S. and accomplice forces."

SOUTHCOM mentioned it would work with the army providers and the Struggle Division’s Protection Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG) to determine capabilities wanted for the brand new command to start operations and combine into its mission.