SOUTHCOM launches first autonomous warfare command in Latin America

The US military is launching a new autonomous warfare command to deploy cutting-edge unmanned systems in Latin America; This is a first-of-its-kind move by a combat command.

Gen. Francis Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), said Tuesday that he has ordered the establishment of the SOUTHCOM Autonomous Warfare Command to support national security priorities and regional efforts.

“From the seabed to space to cyberspace, we aim to take full advantage of the clear superiority of the American defense ecosystem by applying the latest innovations and working even more closely with our enduring partners in the region to counter those who threaten our collective peace and security,” Donovan said in a statement. he said.

According to SOUTHCOM, the new command will “use autonomous, semi-autonomous and unmanned platforms and systems to counter threats and challenges across domains, connecting tactical missions to long-term strategic impacts.”

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SAWC will also work with U.S. allies in the region to advance missions including targeting narcoterrorist and cartel networks and responding to large-scale natural disasters.

Donovan said the region is well-suited for innovation and collaboration with partners.

“Our geographic area of ​​responsibility has a wide range of conditions, diverse terrain, and diverse operational environments that make it an ideal environment to innovate. It is also a region of highly capable and committed security partners who are forward-leaning, embracing technologies, and very willing to work collaboratively with us to support regional stability in new and effective ways,” he said.

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U.S. Southern Command is expanding its use of unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous systems as it launches a new combat unit, officials said. (US Southern Command)

SOUTHCOM is responsible for military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including counternarcotics missions aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks that threaten U.S. interests.

The US military has launched dozens of attacks on ships suspected of drug smuggling in recent months as part of a broader campaign to dismantle cartel-linked smuggling operations.

In a written statement to Congress earlier this year, Donovan said he aims to leverage emerging technologies, telling lawmakers he aims to “leverage next-generation capabilities such as unmanned platforms, artificial intelligence integration, and commercial vehicles to better enable us and our partners to counter threats together.”

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Drones and AI-powered systems are part of U.S. Southern Command’s new initiative to counter regional threats. (US Southern Command)

In March, Donovan told a member of the Armed Services Committee that SOUTHCOM aims to create cost-effective, modernized forces for its mission, including autonomous systems and human-machine fusion, that will “dramatically increase lethality, full domain awareness, and data sharing for U.S. and partner forces.”

SOUTHCOM said it will work with the military services and the War Department’s Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG) to identify the capabilities necessary for the new command to begin operations and integrate into its mission.