Project Agincourt Lays Out Plan to Create Four‑Star Autonomous Warfare Command

Overview

• Project Agincourt leaders Owen West and Senior Chief Max Strasiser published an operational roadmap that sets two missions: stand up a four‑star Autonomous Warfare Command by October 1, 2027 and continue the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems while piloting a new operator‑centric acquisition model.
• The plan shifts procurement authority and funds closer to frontline operational commanders and pairs defense companies directly with units so field units can try, measure, and rapidly adopt systems that prove effective in exercises or combat.
• Success will be judged by operational performance rather than administrative milestones, using competitions, war games and combat results to expand systems that work and end support for those that do not.
• The roadmap stresses lowering cost‑per‑kill and reducing risk to personnel while tailoring autonomous portfolios to regional needs, noting that Pacific force mixes will differ from those used in Europe.
• Senior Pentagon backing and ongoing experiments inform the effort, but creating a joint four‑star command depends on congressional authorization, one‑time funding, basing decisions and new oversight and ethics rules for fast industry‑operator partnerships.