The United States (US) military has unveiled plans to deploy thousands of autonomous weapons systems within the next two years as part of its strategy to counter China's growing power.
US Military personel are seen near solar panels ahead of a ribbon-cutting ceremony for an energy resilience project at the Joint Forces Training Base (JFTB) in Los Alamitos, California on August 11, 2023
The 'Replicator' Initiative of US Military
US Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks shared this announcement during a speech on Monday, introducing the "Replicator" initiative aimed at collaborating with defense and tech companies to produce cost-effective systems for various military branches.
Highlighting the importance of strategic thinking, Hicks emphasized that while China is emphasizing the quantity of its military assets, the US intends to surpass adversaries through innovative strategies and maneuvering.
The Replicator initiative, as coined by Hicks, intends to deploy numerous autonomous systems across different domains over the next 18 to 24 months.
Hicks unveiled the strategy at the National Defense Industrial Association's Emerging Technologies for Defense conference in Washington.
She noted that the Replicator initiative seeks to address China's advantage in sheer mass by leveraging innovation and the expertise of the American people.
Hicks emphasized that throughout history, the US has not solely relied on matching the scale of adversaries. Instead, it has often pioneered new technologies to maintain an edge.
"Replicator is meant to help us overcome the PRC's (People's Republic of China) biggest advantage, which is mass," Hicks said. "More ships. More missiles. More people."
The Deputy Secretary of Defense noted that the US would focus on advancing its capabilities by incorporating attritable, autonomous systems in various domains.
These systems are said to be more cost-effective, reduce the risk to personnel, and can be adapted and upgraded more quickly than traditional platforms.
Hicks said the US aims to counter China's mass-focused strategy by introducing a "mass of our own," which will make it challenging for adversaries to predict and counter.
Hicks stressed that this initiative aligns with the US Defense Department's long-standing investments in autonomous systems, such as self-piloting ships and unmanned aircraft.
Over the past years, advanced robotic systems have been considerably developed for US military purposes.
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China as 'Pacing Challenge' For US
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has identified China as the "pacing challenge" for the United States. The 2022 National Defense Strategy underscores China's efforts to modernize its military forces and offset US advantages in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
Navy Admiral John Aquilino, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, reiterated the magnitude of China's military buildup. He noted that China has been heavily investing in both conventional and strategic nuclear forces, resulting in the largest military expansion since World War II.
Aquilino also highlighted the importance of focusing on competition with China to address these challenges. Hicks noted that the Replicator initiative aims to enhance production and foster a comprehensive approach to innovation and rapid technology deployment.
"So now is the time to take all-domain, attritable autonomy to the next level: to produce and deliver capabilities to warfighters at the volume and velocity required to deter aggression, or win if we're forced to fight," she said.
Ultimately, the objective is to ensure that China's leadership thinks twice before engaging in aggressive actions, creating a deterrent effect that endures for years to come. Hicks stressed that this approach will continue to guide US policy well into the future.
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