Replicator 3 Should Be the Sustainment Revolution

The Pentagon's Replicator initiative is rapidly building a large arsenal of unmanned systems to counter China, but it critically lacks a corresponding sustainment strategy. Contrary to popular belief, the complex unmanned systems required for the vast Indo-Pacific theater will demand a significant logistical tail for maintenance, power, and storage. Without a dedicated effort, dubbed "Replicator-3," to build a new, forward-deployed sustainment architecture, this new force risks being operationally hollow and not combat-ready. The lessons from Ukraine's use of disposable drones do not apply to the maritime environment of the Pacific, which requires hardened, long-endurance systems. Therefore, the Defense Department and industry must invest in the sustainment network with the same urgency as production to ensure the deterrent is credible.