DOD Confirms First Batch of Replicator Drone Deliveries

The initiative to field thousands of cheaply produced drones is 'producing real results,' according to U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 02:53 PM ET

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Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks addresses attendees of the National Defense Industrial Association’s Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference in Washington, D.C., on Monday, August 29. [Courtesy: Air Force Technical Sergeant Jack Sanders]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Department of Defense has commenced deliveries for its "Replicator" initiative, aiming to field thousands of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) by August 2025.
These systems, characterized as "small, smart, cheap, and many" attritable autonomous drones, are designed for rapid deployment in high-risk environments with minimal impact if lost, primarily to counter China's growing military strength.
The program, which remains largely secretive, has secured $500 million in FY2024 funding, with the Switchblade-600 loitering munition confirmed as one of the initial systems benefitting from accelerated delivery.

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The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that deliveries for Replicator —a DOD initiative to field thousands of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, by August 2025—began earlier this month.

“This shows that warfighter-centric innovation is not only possible; it’s producing real results,” Kathleen Hicks, U.S. deputy secretary of defense, said in a statement last week. “Together with the private sector and with support from Congress, the Replicator initiative is delivering capabilities at greater speed and scale while simultaneously burning down risk and alleviating systemic barriers across the department.”

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.