Military
Pentagon Launches $100 Million Challenge to Master Drone Swarm Warfare
The Defense Innovation Unit has announced a $100 million Orchestrator Prize Challenge, seeking technology that lets commanders control mixed swarms of drones from different manufacturers using plain language commands. The program represents a strategic pivot from buying individual drones to coordinating autonomous fleets.
Key Takeaways
- Pentagon's $100M Orchestrator Prize Challenge targets drone swarm command-and-control
- System would let commanders direct mixed drone fleets using plain language orders
- Replaces the Replicator initiative, which missed key delivery milestones
- Ukraine's 200,000+ drone strikes in 2024 set the pace for U.S. ambitions
- Challenge format designed to attract both defense contractors and tech startups
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DT Editorial AI··via defenseone.com
