WASHINGTON, May 6 (Reuters) - The Pentagon said Monday

that AeroVironment Inc's ( AVAV ) Switchblade-600 loitering

munition was the first weapon to be publicly confirmed to be

part of the Replicator initiative, which aims to rapidly deploy

thousands of military drones.

The Switchblade-600 has gained notoriety because the

Ukrainian military is using it to strike Russian troops.

In an effort to enhance the U.S. military's autonomous and

uncrewed capabilities, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen

Hicks kicked off the $1 billion Replicator idea in August. The

two-year program aims to integrate drones and technological

innovations into defense programs at an accelerated pace.

The Switchblade-600 is the first disclosed weapon in the

program, but more tranches and systems are expected. The first

tranche also includes undisclosed maritime surface products,

other aerial drones and counter-drone systems (c-UAS).

The Pentagon confirmed it has $500 million in funding to

support Replicator in fiscal year 2024, including about $300

million from the recently passed defense appropriations bill, in

addition to funds siphoned from other defense accounts. For

2025, the Pentagon has requested about $500 million to continue

the second year of Replicator.

This move underscores the Pentagon's commitment to

strengthening the U.S. military's technological edge,

particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, according to Admiral

Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

AeroVironment ( AVAV ), based in Simi Valley, California, is expected

to scale up production to meet the Department's requirements.

The initiative also represents a broader strategy to diversify

the defense industrial base by incorporating both traditional

and non-traditional companies.