DoD Wants Thousands of Drones to Counter China’s Military Mass Advantage, According to DEPSECDEF Hicks

The Pentagon is betting that by fielding thousands of attritable autonomous systems across. According to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, the United States can defeat China’s Military, China’s advantage of mass in manpower, ships, aircraft, and missiles in less than two years.

According to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, the Pentagon believes that by deploying thousands of attritable autonomous systems throughout the country, the United States can overcome China’s Military, China’s advantage of mass in terms of personnel, ships, aircraft, and missiles in less than two years. (Photo: Defense News)

Hicks: We would use the Replicator Initiative to counter the PLA’s (People’s Liberation Army) mass with our own

She stated during a National Defense Industrial Association event that we would use the Replicator Initiative to counter the PLA’s (People’s Liberation Army) mass with our own, but that our mass would be more difficult to plan for, hit, and defeat.

According to Hicks, the problem of anti-access, area-denial systems will be solved by all-domain, attritable autonomous systems. To prevent their A2AD, use our ADA2.

Hicks made no mention of the initiative’s cost or the types of autonomous systems that will be created through it.

In a report from USNI News, the PRC [People’s Republic of China] leadership must be made to get up every day, weigh the risks of aggression, and come to the realization that “today is not the day” – not just today, but every day between now and 2027, now and 2035, now and 2049, and beyond.

The timescale Hicks outlined, about China’s Military, which is based on President Xi Jinping’s goal date for having his forces militarily prepared for that possibility, raises questions about China’s ability to carry out military choices, such as the probable 2027 timeline to launch an all-out invasion of Taiwan.

The American and allied countries’ weapons inventories have been significantly impacted by supporting Ukraine against the Russian invasion, and their defense industrial bases have been put under pressure to keep up with Kyiv’s demand, related to China’s Military.

READ ALSO: China’s Cotton Production Is Expected To Decline One Year After The US’ Xinjiang Embargo As Attention Turns To Food Security And Quality

We have given Ukraine more than 3.1 million rockets, missiles, mortar rounds, and artillery shells in the 18 months since [the invasion], and those are just four types of weaponry. We have sent and committed substantially more military aid—more than $43 billion. Additionally, through collaborating with the business sector, we were able to assist Ukraine in gaining access to crucial commercial technology skills that actually assisted them on the battlefield.

The Replicator Initiative will be managed by Hicks and Vice Adm. James Grady of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who will be assisted by Doug Beck, director of the Defense Innovation Unit.

The Pentagon will need to collaborate closely with the private sector, including both conventional and unconventional military enterprises, allies, and partners for the project to be successful. According to her, Congress has the chance to play a crucial role in enabling the delivery of capabilities to the warfighter quickly and efficiently.

These autonomous systems, according to Hicks, “are less expensive, put fewer people in the line of fire, and can be changed, updated, or improved with substantially shorter lead times.”

She pointed out that the deployment of mass by Russia in Ukraine has not resulted in a Kremlin triumph. After all, unlike some of our rivals, we don’t use our employees like human shields, Hicks claimed.

Hicks emphasized the need of commercial satellite communications and unmanned aircraft systems in successfully countering Kremlin battlefield strategies, reports from USNI.

READ ALSO: US Imposes Visa Restrictions On China In Response To The ‘Forced Integration’ Of Tibetan Children