US Southern Command stands up autonomous unit

U.S. Southern Command is standing up a new element aimed at connecting tactical missions to long-term outcomes with unmanned systems, the command announced Tuesday .

The development of the Autonomous Warfare Command was mandated by SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan in an effort to further support the Trump administration’s national security objectives and SOUTHCOM’s operational dominance, per the statement.

Once fully operational, the new command will be tasked with engaging autonomous, semi-autonomous and unmanned platforms to “counter threats across domains.” The announcement did not specify when SAWC will reach operational status.

“From the seafloor to space and across the cyber domain, we fully intend to leverage the clear superiority of the American defense ecosystem by deploying cutting-edge innovation and working ever closer with our enduring partners in the region to outmatch those who threaten our collective peace and security,” Donovan said in the release.

The announcement stated that SAWC will work toward shared purposes with allies and partners in the region, such as missions focused on “degrading” narcoterrorist and cartel networks and responding to national disasters.

SOUTHCOM’s area of responsibility includes the Caribbean, South America and Central America.

“Our geographic area of responsibility has a wide range of conditions, varied terrain and diverse operational environments that make it an ideal setting in which to innovate,” Donovan said in the statement.

“It is also a region with very capable and committed security partners who lean forward, embrace technologies and are very eager to work collaboratively with us to support regional stability in new and effective ways,” Donovan continued.

SOUTHCOM, military services and the Department of Defense’s Defense Autonomous Warfare Group will collaborate ahead of SAWC’s full launch, the release noted.

The groups will strive to ensure that SOUTHCOM will be able to completely integrate the new command into their mission, while pinpointing necessary expertise and capabilities required for the new command’s commencement.

The addition of the unmanned-focused unit, meanwhile, continues a trend of increased U.S. emphasis in the region.

In January, the U.S. Space Force officially activated its southern component, formalizing Space Forces Southern’s role in space capabilities across the Western Hemisphere.

U.S. Space Command played an integral role in the recent high-risk operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro , providing space-based capabilities such as satellite communications and position, navigation and timing.

Donovan assumed command of SOUTHCOM after the Maduro raid, replacing Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, who retired last year amid increasing scrutiny over the Trump administration’s deadly strikes on alleged drug boats in the region, a remarkable extension of American power in Latin America.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cristina Stassis is a reporter covering stories surrounding the defense industry, national security, military/veteran affairs and more. She previously worked as an editorial fellow for Defense News in 2024 where she assisted the newsroom in breaking news across Sightline Media Group.

美国南方司令部周二宣布，该司令部正在组建一个新的部门，旨在利用无人系统将战术任务与长期成果联系起来。

声明称，自主作战司令部的建立是南方司令部司令弗朗西斯·L·多诺万将军下令的，目的是为了进一步支持特朗普政府的国家安全目标和南方司令部的作战优势。

新成立的指挥部一旦全面投入运作，其任务将是指挥自主、半自主和无人平台“应对跨领域的威胁”。公告并未具体说明SAWC何时能够投入运作。

“从海底到太空，再到网络空间，我们完全打算利用美国国防生态系统的明显优势，部署尖端创新技术，并与我们在该地区的长期合作伙伴更加紧密地合作，以战胜那些威胁我们共同和平与安全的人，”多诺万在新闻稿中表示。

公告称，SAWC 将与该地区的盟友和伙伴共同努力，实现共同目标，例如专注于“削弱”毒品恐怖主义和贩毒集团网络以及应对国家灾害的任务。

美国南方司令部的责任区域包括加勒比海地区、南美洲和中美洲。

多诺万在声明中表示：“我们的责任区域涵盖了广泛的条件、多样的地形和多样化的作战环境，使其成为创新的理想场所。”

多诺万继续说道：“该地区还拥有非常有能力且忠诚的安全合作伙伴，他们积极进取，拥抱新技术，并非常渴望与我们合作，以新的有效方式支持区域稳定。”

新闻稿指出，南方司令部、各军种和国防部国防自主战争小组将在SAWC全面启动前开展合作。

各小组将努力确保南方司令部能够将新司令部完全融入其任务中，同时确定新司令部成立所需的必要专业知识和能力。

与此同时，新增的这支以无人机为重点的部队，延续了美国在该地区日益重视的趋势。

今年 1 月，美国太空军正式启动了其南方部队，正式确立了南方太空军在西半球太空能力方面的作用。

美国太空司令部在最近抓捕委内瑞拉领导人尼古拉斯·马杜罗的高风险行动中发挥了不可或缺的作用，提供了卫星通信、定位、导航和授时等天基能力。

在马杜罗突袭行动之后，多诺万接管了南方司令部，接替了海军上将阿尔文·霍尔西。霍尔西上将去年退休，此前，特朗普政府对该地区涉嫌贩毒船只发动致命袭击，这是美国在拉丁美洲权力的一次显著扩张，并因此受到越来越多的审查。

美联社对本报道亦有贡献。

克里斯蒂娜·斯塔西斯是一位记者，主要报道国防工业、国家安全、军事/退伍军人事务等领域的新闻。她曾于2024年在《防务新闻》担任编辑助理，协助Sightline媒体集团旗下新闻编辑室处理突发新闻。