{"id":50198,"date":"2023-10-10T12:29:24","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T12:29:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2023\/10\/10\/us-army-mulls-attack-drones-ground-robots-for-replicator-endeavor\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:54:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:54:56","slug":"us-army-mulls-attack-drones-ground-robots-for-replicator-endeavor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/unmanned\/2023\/10\/10\/us-army-mulls-attack-drones-ground-robots-for-replicator-endeavor\/","title":{"rendered":"US Army mulls attack drones, ground robots for Replicator"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. Army could contribute one-way attack drones and ground-based robotics to the Pentagon\u2019s nascent Replicator initiative, which aims to deploy autonomous systems en masse to counter Chinese stockpiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks rolled out the venture in August<\/a>, calling for thousands of attritable systems in the field in the next 18 to 24 months. Details have been scant regarding sourcing and validation of the systems as well as how the U.S. will dispatch them so quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth on Oct. 9 said the service has \u201ca number of areas that would be right for Replicator,\u201d including UAVs \u201cof all sizes.\u201d The service is in close coordination with the defense secretary\u2019s office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cObviously UAVs, both using them as sensors and as deliverers of payloads, and also defending against them, are key on the battlefield,\u201d she told reporters on the sidelines of the annual Association of the U.S. Army conference<\/a> in Washington. \u201cSome of the loitering munitions that we have could be candidates for Replicator. And then, finally, perhaps some of our ground robots.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t