The US Army is redesignating its Futures and Concepts Command as Futures and Autonomous Systems Command, or FASCOM. The October 13 announcement clarified the existing unit behind the recently announced autonomy structure. A three-star command is intended to coordinate research, innovation and modernisation as the Army seeks wider use of unmanned systems.
The US Army is redesignating its Futures and Concepts Command as Futures and Autonomous Systems Command, or FASCOM. Acting Army Chief General Christopher LaNeve explained the change on October 13 at the Association of the United States Army conference. The autonomy-focused structure is a three-star command within the Army’s Transformation and Training Command.[1], [2]
The Army had announced FASCOM earlier in October without identifying the existing concepts command’s role. The new structure is intended to integrate work by five organisations dealing with combat capability development, medical research and development, innovation, joint modernisation and analysis of transformation decisions. LaNeve said the aim was to place autonomous and unmanned capabilities where needed throughout command levels.[1]
The Futures and Concepts Command had been established earlier in the year by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. Its parent, Transformation and Training Command, combined Training and Doctrine Command with Army Futures Command under the Army Transformation Initiative. LaNeve described operational concepts for autonomy across different combat functions, extending beyond drones. The October 13 change identifies the command being renamed and the work it is intended to coordinate.[1]
