The US military tried to copy Iran's small motorcycle, but it failed...
September 29 report, the US Department of Defense's "Replicator" program has failed.
Originally claimed to create small, smart, and cheap drone swarms to counter China's so-called military expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.
But by the deadline of August 2025, the project not only didn't take shape, but was also forced to reorganize into a Defense Autonomous Operations Team.
This plan sounds high-end, but in reality, it's just copying Iran's small motorcycle. In the Ukraine-Russia war, both sides are fighting this way. The US really can't copy it. The so-called "Replicator" ends up replicating nothing.
The US procurement system inevitably leads to this absurd outcome.
Iran builds drones using civilian parts assembled together, emphasizing disposable consumption.
The US builds drones, but has to go through a whole set of procedures including military contractors, congressional funding, and Pentagon audits. Each step can raise the cost.
By the time a drone is equipped with the military, the price is already extremely high. The so-called affordable swarm has become a new money-making tool for arms dealers.
The US originally planned to rely on quantity to counter China, but due to high costs, it couldn't achieve a numerical advantage.
It has been proven successful, it has become the mainstream on the battlefield, it is so simple, but the US still can't make it work. If the cost is low, there's no profit; if the cost is high, it's unrealistic. The so-called pursuit of high-end is just to make more money.
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1844667570053120/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.