The Pentagon began the Replicator Initiative in August 2023 to rapidly field and scale existing technologies to address high-priority operational problems. In the last year, Replicator 1 has put numerous aerial and naval drones into the hands of American operators. The recently announced Replicator 2 will address one of the most challenging threats to the United States and allied militaries by fielding existing counter-drone systems at scale.

By tapping into commercial software and hardware production and streamlining the notoriously cumbersome acquisition process, Replicator takes advantage of America’s comparative strengths: technological innovation, adaptability, and market-driven advancement. It is also directly tackling the operational challenges facing US combatant commanders today.

Join Hudson Senior Fellows Bryan Clark and Dan Patt for a fireside chat with Aditi Kumar, deputy director of the Defense Innovation Unit, to discuss Replicator’s progress and its promise for the future.