By Jim Morris, Warrior Vice President, News
Last summer, the Pentagon unveiled a plan aimed at competing with China by building thousands of inexpensive, smart drones. It was dubbed Replicator.
On Monday, the Defense Department took what might be another step in the process – awarding contracts to four companies to build a drone known as an enterprise test vehicle (ETV). The contractors are being asked to demonstrate how a modular drone could be used to test a variety of technologies. They also must show how a large number could be built at an affordable cost.
Anduril Industries, Integrated Solutions for Systems, Leidos Dynetics and Zone 5 Technologies will develop prototypes that would be ready for flight demonstration by late summer or fall.
The project is being run by the Air Force Armament Directorate and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the Silicon Valley-based Pentagon organization that was created in 2015 to help the military make better use of commercial technologies.
In its proposal, DIU said it was looking for a modular test platform that could be built quickly, had a range of 500 nautical miles and could deliver a kinetic payload. Officials say more than 100 companies applied.
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Vendors will use commercial off-the-shelf components whenever possible to keep costs low and avoid supply-chain slowdowns.
“The ETV presents an opportunity to leverage promising ideas from industry to create and refine affordable designs for test capabilities that can be produced on a relevant timeline, “ said Andrew Hunter, the Air Force’s assistant secretary for acquisition, technology and logistics.
DIU Director Doug Beck called the project “a great example of how we are partnered closely with the Air Force to drive innovation for the warfighter, with the focus, speed and scale necessary to achieve strategic impact.”
The ETV is likely to be a part of the Replicator program, although the Pentagon has been cautious when it comes to talking about it. Officials are trying to avoid letting China know too much about the program.
Last month, senior defense officials said the first set of systems in Replicator would include the AeroVironment Switchblade 600. The Switchblade drones have already proven successful in Ukraine, and its guidance systems and loitering abilities have been upgraded to provide additional capability to US forces.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said the initial manufacturing of Replicator program drones is aimed at several key capabilities – destroying enemy drones, operation on the surface of the ocean and the ability to be launched from various platforms.
