Tongdao Think Tank 2024-02-06 11:41 Hebei.
The Switchblade 600 kamikaze drone is one of the first systems being evaluated by the Pentagon, according to DefenseScoop on February 2. The new replicator is planned for mass production and rapid expansion.
The stated goal of the U.S. Department of Defense's Replicator project is to counter large-scale, sustained military construction by deploying thousands of expendable autonomous systems across multiple domains by August 2025. The upcoming deployment of the replicator will take place in about 10 technology combinations or combinations, and it has been announced that it will be carried out in different phases, with the first phase containing more "mature" capabilities that have already been proven in the U.S. department.
The Pentagon revealed that a handful of features were selected last month, with priority given to the initial replicator part. In December, U.S. Army Assistant Secretary Doug Bush, who is responsible for procurement, logistics and technology, suggested that the Army nominate multiple unmanned aerial systems for the program.
The Switchblade 600 attack drone, manufactured by Aerovironment, qualified Hicks for the replicator's loitering ammunition capability set through the Army's Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions (TAGM) program.
With a range of 24 miles, a 40-minute hovering endurance and a flight speed of up to 115 miles per hour, the Switchblade 600 is designed to destroy armored vehicles and other targets in multi-domain military operations.
Ever since U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks launched Replicator last August, she and the Department of Defense have been tight-lipped about how certain aspects of the program could really be integrated.
According to Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon, "the deputy secretary selected areas of competence in December. The military department then identifies specific systems and associated procurement strategies to meet these capability needs. The department recently informed our congressional committee of the jurisdiction of these system requests, in accordance with the established schedule of the replicator. ”
We submitted our spending plan and reprogramming request to Congress [on January 31]. We expect them to act quickly, which will allow us to ramp up and accelerate the production of replicator features. We are not in a position to provide specific information about the reprogramming request at this time," he said.
It is important to note that the cruise missile is just one of several different areas of capability that the Department of Defense seeks to accelerate with replicators.
I don't think 'kamikaze drones' are the right way to think about it. You need to think again about going beyond the power side of things, thinking about providing logistics, command and control, ISR (if you will), and capabilities in multiple areas," Hicks said.
February** Dynamic Incentive Program