Quantico, Va. – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used his annual State of the Force address to outline sweeping changes to the U.S. military. Speaking to junior officers and enlisted leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Hegseth announced the creation of a new four‑star command dedicated to autonomous and robotic systems, a 20% cut in the number of generals and admirals, and a high‑profile study of future warfare.
New drone‑focused command
The Pentagon will stand up a four‑star command to oversee the rollout of autonomous and robotic capabilities. Hegseth said the pace of war is outpacing the ability of the services to adapt, noting Iran’s use of inexpensive drones and Ukraine’s effective employment of unmanned systems against Russian forces. “Ukraine’s lesson is not that one type of drone wins wars, but that we need a purpose‑built system that can adapt,” he said.
While the new command will centralize development and fielding of drone technology, an Army unit in Europe that had been specializing in drone warfare was recently ordered to revert to a traditional infantry role, prompting a bipartisan group of lawmakers to request an explanation.
Flag‑officer reductions
Hegseth also directed the services to double the 10% reduction ordered last spring, targeting roughly 800 flag and general officer positions for a total 20% decrease by Jan. 1, 2027. “I call it accountability and long overdue,” he declared.
Critics in Congress labeled the move a “purge” that could take a generation to recover from. Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly (D‑Ariz.) warned that the cuts would remove a generation of experienced leaders. Republican Sen. Mike Rounds (R‑S.D.) said he wants to see the rationale before forming a judgment.
Study of future warfare
To chart the next wave of weapons, Hegseth announced a study led by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and Anduril co‑founder Palmer Luckey. The effort will focus on discovering, developing, and fielding systems that future generations will need, from underground battlefields to lunar environments.
Hegseth highlighted recent progress, noting the United States has for the first time confirmed deployment of weapons in space, a milestone after decades of treaty‑based restrictions on weaponizing the final frontier.
Other initiatives
The address also included plans to create an Office of Religious Affairs, a move aimed at supporting service members’ faith traditions, and a proposal to build a new military base – the first in 40 years – inviting all 50 states to compete for a host site that could accommodate 15,000 to 20,000 personnel. Additionally, the Pentagon will pursue self‑powered installations for all bases.
Experts caution that while the administration’s push for rapid weapons development is ambitious, contractors may need three years or more to replenish stockpiles of key systems heavily used in the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Hegseth’s announcements come as the United States remains seven months into a war with Iran, with no clear end in sight, and continues operations against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and drug‑trafficking vessels in Latin America.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
