What's next for the Pentagon after the Replicator programme?
Although the Replicator initiative has made several accomplishments, there are still multiple gaps to plug across the US Department of Defense (DoD) and its services.
Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) has developed an updated Airlander 10 aircraft as the version that will go into production for initial customers.
The updated aircraft has a fuel-saving, lower-drag shape; enhanced landing gear; and a wider, longer cabin for passengers, cargo and equipment.
HAV has signed letters of intent for over ten aircraft, and is currently in negotiations for the first four production slots. Initial customers are organisations in the tourism and clean technology sectors.
The production aircraft will also deliver increased efficiency, with the Airlander 10 producing up to 75% fewer emissions than comparable aircraft. HAV is also currently developing electric propulsion systems with Collins Aerospace and the University of Nottingham.
For defence applications, Airlander has the ability to collect data with a variety of on-board sensors, process and exploit it, and disseminate intelligence across multiple channels. It can simultaneously act as an airborne intelligence command and communications centre.
Although the Replicator initiative has made several accomplishments, there are still multiple gaps to plug across the US Department of Defense (DoD) and its services.
Cummings Aerospace presented its turbojet-powered Hellhound loitering munition at SOF Week 2025, offering a man-portable solution aligned with the US Army’s LASSO requirements.
PDW has revealed its Attritable Multirotor First Person View drone at SOF Week 2025, offering special operations forces a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from Ukraine.
Teledyne FLIR is highlighting the emerging requirements for 'recoverable and re-usable' loitering munitions across the contemporary operating environment during this week’s SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida.
High-performance maritime industry player Kraken Technology Group, based in the UK, has used the SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida this week to debut its K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessel (USV) to the North American market.
Red Cat and Palladyne AI recently conducted a cross-platform collaborative flight involving three diverse heterogeneous drones.