US Southern Command launches drone warfare command

Marine Corps General Francis Donovan has launched the Southcom Autonomous Warfare Command (SAWC) to coordinate aerial, surface, and underwater drone operations against cartel threats in the Caribbean, Central, and South America. The initiative follows recent kinetic strikes under Operation Southern Spear, including one this week that reportedly killed three individuals labeled as narco-terrorists. The new command will work with the Pentagon's Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, which is set to receive a massive budget increase from $225.9 million in 2026 to a requested $54.6 billion for 2027, reflecting a major pivot toward AI-powered autonomous systems for interdiction and patrol missions.