operationalDrone

Replicator Initiative

Data Trust

Confidence

●Verified

Sources

Verified

2026-02-08

Updated

2026-02-26

Completeness

6/6

Primary source ↗

Decision Summary

Status

operational

Contracts

Vendors

Use this to quickly assess program maturity and supplier depth.

Lead Country

United States

Lead Organization

Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG)

Budget

USD 1.0B(total)

Timeline

2023 → 2025

The Replicator Initiative is a U.S. Department of Defense effort launched in 2023 to rapidly field large volumes of attritable autonomous systems across domains. Replicator 1 focused on accelerating procurement and deployment of low-cost autonomous platforms and software enablers for Indo-Pacific deterrence. Replicator-2, announced in September 2024, shifted priority toward counter-small UAS (C-sUAS) for installation and force protection, with execution linked to JIATF-401 and DIU contracting lanes.

Contracts

€16M

Total Value (est.)

Vendors

Countries

Sources(13)

📄Original Source↗📰news.usni.org↗🏛️war.gov↗📰nationaldefensemagazine.org↗🏛️congress.gov↗📰breakingdefense.com↗📰brookings.edu↗📰dodmantech.mil↗📰defensescoop.com↗📰cset.georgetown.edu↗📰brookings.edu↗🏛️war.gov↗📰belfercenter.org↗

Products(1)

Switchblade 600

LOITERING

serial

MTOW: 22.7 kg

Role: primary

Contracts(4)

Title	Vendor	Value	Status
Replicator 2 First Acquisition — Fortem…	Fortem Technologies	—	awarded
Replicator ORIENT C2 Backbone — Prototype…	—	—	awarded
Replicator ACT Autonomy Software — Prototype…	Anduril Industries	—	awarded
IGF::CT::IGF R&D LOW COST UAS SWARM TECHNOLOGY…	GEORGIA TECH APPLIED RESEARCH CORP	USD 17.4M	completed