In a new memorandum, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has unveiled the second stage of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Replicator initiative. The Replicator initiative is aimed at addressing the growing threat posed by UAS by drawing on innovative solutions from the industry.
The announcement, distributed to senior Pentagon leadership and key defence personnel on September 27, outlines the Replicator 2 initiative and the department’s plan to bolster defence capabilities and better protect critical military installations and force concentrations from small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) threats.
Replicator 2 builds on the success of the DoD’s original Replicator initiative, which focused on scaling autonomous systems to meet the needs of the warfighter. Secretary Austin noted that Replicator 1’s concentrated focus on attritable autonomy helped accelerate the fielding of critical technology, with deployment expected by next summer. This experience has informed the DoD’s approach to identifying and addressing other pressing capability gaps.
After months of assessment, the department has determined that countering sUAS threats is the top priority for Replicator 2. These threats, posed by increasingly accessible and adaptable drone technologies, present significant risks to critical military infrastructure and force concentrations.
The Replicator 2 initiative will complement ongoing work within the DoD to improve C-sUAS capabilities, aiming to overcome challenges related to production capacity, technological innovation, system integration and policy frameworks.
Key to the success of Replicator 2 will be the collaborative efforts of various defence entities. The Deputy Secretary of Defense and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will lead the planning phase through the Deputy’s Innovation Steering Group, with the goal of delivering a detailed proposal to Congress as part of the FY2026 President’s Budget Request.
The Director of the Defense Innovation Unit will spearhead the initiative’s development, working closely with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, who will oversee C-sUAS efforts. Military departments will take charge of the production and deployment of related technologies.
The DoD aims to deliver enhanced C-sUAS protection for critical assets within 24 months of receiving funding approval from Congress. Secretary Austin emphasised that Replicator 2 will leverage existing C-sUAS work and collaborate with the Counter Uncrewed Systems Warfighter Senior Integration Group.
Austin expressed optimism about working with Congress to ensure the success of the Replicator 2 Initiative, highlighting the warfighting imperative of force protection in the face of evolving aerial threats.
Post Image Credit: U.S. Army Maj. Jason Elmore
