DOD’s Kathleen Hicks Says Replicator Program to Begin Selecting Candidates

Kathleen Hicks, deputy secretary of defense and a 2023 Wash100 awardee, said at an event on Tuesday that the Department of Defense within the next three weeks will choose the programs to be fast-tracked under an initiative to rapidly deploy thousands of autonomous systems.

Hicks previously explained that Replicator’s objective is to provide the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command with attritable, low-cost capabilities within two years to match China’s growing military power, DefenseScoop reported.

She said the selected candidates may not be publicized as part of an operational goal to deter China and other competitors from disrupting Replicator. Transparency will be maintained with Congress, Hicks noted.

According to Hicks, Replicator involves expediting certain programs by stripping away risks in manufacturing, software design and other areas.

Hicks noted that the DOD is seeking drone capabilities costing up to hundreds of thousands of dollars per unit, ruling out more expensive programs such as the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft.