DIU awards contracts to software vendors for Replicator initiative

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) awarded prototype contracts to seven software vendors to support the Pentagon’s Replicator initiative, aimed at fielding thousands of robotic systems to counter China's Indo-Pacific military buildup. Defense Scoop reported the selected companies include Viasat, Anduril Industries, and L3Harris, which will provide technologies for resilient command-and-control (C2) capabilities and the coordination of uncrewed systems across multiple domains. The initiative emphasizes "heterogeneous collaboration," where autonomous systems and platforms operate together seamlessly, even in challenging communication environments.

Launched to connect the Pentagon with commercial tech, DIU continues to integrate AI and autonomy solutions from nontraditional defense contractors. Officials underscore the importance of these innovations in bolstering defense modernization and operational readiness. Admiral Samuel Paparo highlighted unmanned systems' value but stressed the need for broader capabilities, including air and maritime superiority, to sustain operations in contested environments. DIU did not disclose the contract values.