Pentagon Takes New “Build” Step With Replicator Drone Swarm

By Olaware Abaire, Warrior Editorial Fellow

In a recent development, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), under the leadership of Deputy Secretary Hicks, has launched the inaugural phase of the Replicator initiative on May 6, 2024. This initiative is a significant leap in defense technology, aiming to roll out All Domain Attritable Autonomous (ADA2) systems.

The Replicator initiative is a testament to the DoD’s effort to harness commercial technology to tackle operational hurdles. The initiative unites a broad spectrum of tech firms, encompassing traditional system providers, component makers, and software developers.

The initial set of Replicator capabilities encompasses uncrewed surface vehicles (USV), uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), and counter-uncrewed aerial systems (c-UAS) of varying sizes and payloads, sourced from a mix of traditional and non-traditional suppliers. The first Replicator tranche also includes certain classified capabilities, with some pertaining to the maritime domain and others to the counter-UAS portfolio.

In the air domain, the Department plans to expedite the deployment of the Switchblade-600 loitering munition, a product of AeroVironment Inc., headquartered in Simi Valley, CA. These U.S.-supplied Switchblade drones have proven their worth in Ukraine, and this system will augment the capabilities of U.S. forces.

However, in the maritime domain, the Department is broadening the supplier base for USVs via the recently unveiled Production-Ready, Inexpensive, Maritime Expeditionary (PRIME) Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO). The CSO mechanism enables U.S. and international firms to present their technologies to the Department through a streamlined process for a prototype contract.

For FY24, the DoD has secured an estimated $500 million, including approximately $300 million from the FY 2024 defense appropriations bill. This funding bolsters the Department’s reprogramming request and additional funding identified through existing authorities and Defense-wide sources.