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The US military is launching a new independent warfare command to deploy unmanned systems across Latin America, marking its first move with a military command.
The commander of the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Gen. Francis Donovan said Tuesday he has ordered the establishment of the SOUTHCOM Autonomous Warfare Command to support national security priorities and regional efforts.
“From the bottom of the sea to the air and throughout cyber history, we fully aim for the clear superiority of America’s defense ecosystem through advanced transformation and greater cooperation with our permanent partners in the region to defeat those who threaten the peace and security of all of us,” Donovan said in a statement.
According to SOUTHCOM, the new command will use “independent, autonomous, and unmanned platforms to counter threats and challenges in all domains, linking tactical operations to long-term strategic outcomes.”
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General Francis Donovan, head of the US Southern Command, said the military is promoting the use of drones and autonomous systems in regional operations. (Brendan SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
The SAWC will also work with US allies in the region and advance operations that include targeting narcoterrorist and cartel networks and addressing major natural disasters.
Donovan said the region is ripe for innovation and collaboration.
“Our area of responsibility has a lot of diversity, a lot of geography, and a lot of different work areas that make it an ideal place for innovation. It’s also a region with very capable and dedicated security partners who are forward-looking, adopt technology and are very willing to work with us to support the stability of the region in new and effective ways,” he said.
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The US Southern Command is expanding the use of drones and autonomous systems as it launches a new military unit, officials said. (US Southern Command)
SOUTHCOM is responsible for military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including counter-narcotics missions aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks that threaten US interests.
The US military has carried out a number of strikes in recent months on suspected drug-trafficking vessels as part of a wider crackdown on cartel-related human trafficking.
In a written statement to Congress earlier this year, Donovan said he intends to use emerging technologies, telling lawmakers that he intends to “use next-generation capabilities such as unmanned platforms, AI integration, and commercial tools to better enable us and our partners to address … threats together.”
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Drones and AI-powered systems are part of the US Southern Command’s new plan to combat regional threats. (US Southern Command)
In March, Donovan told a member of the Armed Services Committee that he intends to build a cost-effective, renewable capability for SOUTHCOM missions, including autonomous systems and human-machine interaction, to “significantly increase lethality, cross-domain awareness, and share data with US and partner forces.”
SOUTHCOM said it will work with the military and the Department of Defense’s Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG) to identify the capabilities needed for the new command to be operational and integrated into its mission.
