Following Replicator win, AeroVironment sees strong demand for Switchblade, loitering munitions

Following Replicator win, AeroVironment sees strong demand for Switchblade, loitering munitions
Following Replicator win, AeroVironment sees strong demand for Switchblade, loitering munitions

“We already expanded production ahead of Replicator, and irrespective of Replicator, because we know where this is going,” AeroVironment CEO Wahid Nawabi told Breaking Defense.

Pentagon confirms Switchblade 600 made first Replicator tranche

Pentagon confirms Switchblade 600 made first Replicator tranche
Pentagon confirms Switchblade 600 made first Replicator tranche

“This is a critical step in delivering the capabilities we need, at the scale and speed we need, to continue securing a free and open Indo-Pacific” said Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

Replicator, planes and multi-year deals: What’s in the new FY24 defense spending bill

Replicator, planes and multi-year deals: What’s in the new FY24 defense spending bill
Replicator, planes and multi-year deals: What’s in the new FY24 defense spending bill

The bipartisan spending package, released early this morning, increases defense funding by $27 billion over the previous year’s enacted budget and includes a number of key provisions the department had requested.

Army has 1 unmanned system in Replicator’s initial tranche, 3 others in mind for next go: Official

Army has 1 unmanned system in Replicator’s initial tranche, 3 others in mind for next go: Official
Army has 1 unmanned system in Replicator’s initial tranche, 3 others in mind for next go: Official

Meanwhile, the Air Force’s Vice Chief of Staff Gen James Slife said his service has several “compelling programs in the pipeline” but they are “not quite as technologically mature as some of the Army programs.”

US defense modernization gets a ‘D’ grade in new report as tech roadblocks persist

US defense modernization gets a ‘D’ grade in new report as tech roadblocks persist
US defense modernization gets a ‘D’ grade in new report as tech roadblocks persist

“We’re still looking for the ability to translate and transition those innovation priorities into capabilities, into programs of record, into budget priorities,” said Rachel Hoff, Reagan Institute’s policy director and one of the authors of a new scorecard evaluating progress in defense innovation.

Pentagon eyes $1 billion over 2 years for Replicator mass drone fleet concept

Pentagon eyes $1 billion over 2 years for Replicator mass drone fleet concept
Pentagon eyes $1 billion over 2 years for Replicator mass drone fleet concept

“There was a debate which … about so-called ‘reveal, conceal’ [and] how much detail we want to put out,” said Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller Mike McCord. “We’re sort of leaning on the side of not disclosing the details…”

Ukraine war turns 2: Lessons learned and what comes next

Ukraine war turns 2: Lessons learned and what comes next
Ukraine war turns 2: Lessons learned and what comes next

On the two year anniversary of the war, the Breaking Defense team has assembled a series of pieces on the state of the conflict across multiple domains, what might come in year three, and what lessons the US has learned from the conflict. 

DoD selects first Replicator systems, eyeing software focus for second iteration

DoD selects first Replicator systems, eyeing software focus for second iteration
DoD selects first Replicator systems, eyeing software focus for second iteration

Which specific systems have been selected haven’t been publicly announced, a “very deliberate” strategy from the Pentagon, Navy Capt. Alex Campbell, director of the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) maritime portfolio, said today.

In DIU’s new strategy, innovation hub looks to take on more ‘real risk’

In DIU’s new strategy, innovation hub looks to take on more ‘real risk’
In DIU’s new strategy, innovation hub looks to take on more ‘real risk’

“The challenge now is to take the capabilities developed during DIU 2.0 and apply them with the focus, scale, and speed necessary to deliver the strategic effect required,” according to the strategy. “This is what DIU 3.0 is all about.”

Replicator’s ‘PRIME’ time: DIU seeks small USV interceptors ready for rapid production

Replicator’s ‘PRIME’ time: DIU seeks small USV interceptors ready for rapid production
Replicator’s ‘PRIME’ time: DIU seeks small USV interceptors ready for rapid production

The DIU solicitation comes amid a raft of other Navy-led efforts to bring more unmanned surface vehicles into operations.

Now that DoD picked first set of Replicator capabilities, next step is ‘acceleration pathways’

Now that DoD picked first set of Replicator capabilities, next step is ‘acceleration pathways’
Now that DoD picked first set of Replicator capabilities, next step is ‘acceleration pathways’

“Each of the services nominated capabilities for consideration in the selection process, based on a warfighter-centric set of criteria,” a Pentagon spokesman told Breaking Defense.

Drones, DIU and Army Network: What to watch for in networks in 2024

Drones, DIU and Army Network: What to watch for in networks in 2024
Drones, DIU and Army Network: What to watch for in networks in 2024

Here’s what to watch for in the defense network, cyber and innovation space in 2024.

Amid Ukraine and Israel conflicts, Pentagon acquisition chief sees counter-drone ‘crisis’

Amid Ukraine and Israel conflicts, Pentagon acquisition chief sees counter-drone ‘crisis’
Amid Ukraine and Israel conflicts, Pentagon acquisition chief sees counter-drone ‘crisis’

“It is an urgent issue. … We need counter UAS capabilities at scale,” said Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Bill LaPlante. “We need lots of money, we need production lines to go up fast.”

DIU eyeing Feb-Aug 2025 to field first Replicator systems, wants industry input

DIU eyeing Feb-Aug 2025 to field first Replicator systems, wants industry input
DIU eyeing Feb-Aug 2025 to field first Replicator systems, wants industry input

The first tranche will come from both large and small companies that DIU works with frequently, Doug Beck said, and include systems that are ready to be scaled and have been tested and validated in appropriate environments.