Today, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Joint Counter-small UAS Office (JCO), announced a new solicitation for low-collateral defeat (LCD) options in support of Replicator-2 that can scale across the joint force and integrate into existing Counter Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-sUAS) programs of record. As part of the Replicator initiative, the call for novel capabilities builds on multiple efforts to deliver strategic capability and to build new innovative muscle for the Department of Defense.
As drones rapidly evolve from slow, easily identifiable commercial systems operating on known frequencies to faster, custom-built systems, the call for LCD capabilities is a key effort geared toward supporting warfighters with the most effective defeat options. These systems help to minimise risk to friendly forces, civilians, and infrastructure in the homeland and abroad.
Here’s our analysis, because there’s a lot to take apart in this announcement:
First of all, the use of the term ‘novel technologies’ is very specific. This partnership shows DIU and the UK plan to leverage commercial R&D with the intent to rapidly prototype and procure novel technology to solve a common problem set. That dovetails with U.K. Chancellor Rachel Reeves Spring Statement where she announced a “clear mandate to bring innovative technology to the front line at speed.”
This can be done by leveraging DIU’s Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO), which they describe as a process that emphasises speed, flexibility, scalability, and execution. This effort aims to add urgency to defence innovation and clear systemic roadblocks related to LCD acquisitions. This is not phrasing typically associated with the U.K. Ministry of Defence. LtCol Timothy Otten, Defense Innovation Unit Embedded Liaison to the United Kingdom, tells us that this is the first ever bilateral Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) the DIU have done with another country.
Lt Col Otten went on to explain that since this is a bilateral CSO, this is the first time the U.K. is using the CSO process: “The CSO could prove to be a blueprint for how UKDI leverages rapid commercial innovation for novel technologies. If it is, it would be a significant step towards standardising defence innovation between our nations.”
This is a big deal.
Unlike the AUKUS Maritime Challenge that consists of three parallel and cooperative challenges, this is a single integrated CSO. The U.K. is an equitable partner, which hopefully means there will be more rapid adoption of innovation as the CSOs are awarded, and if all goes well, more CSOs will be made in the future, which benefits everyone.
Now back to the press release.
From DIU
“DIU continues to work with partners across DoD to accelerate efforts to address UAS threats in both combat environments and highly populated areas,” said DIU Director, Doug Beck. “In addition to providing a critical capability to our forces around the world and helping protect the nation here at home, we are focused on working with industry’s most agile commercial companies to meet the evolving challenges in countering UAS and on scaling those solutions to the level required by the evolving threat.”
From US Northern Command
“North America faces a variety of non-traditional threats, and key among these is the use of small uncrewed aircraft systems operating near installations and critical infrastructure – addressing these threats is a top priority and essential task,” said Commander, U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, Gen. Gregory M. Guillot. “Partnering with DIU to employ low-collateral defeat capabilities is one example of how we are developing the forward-looking capabilities and policies necessary to ensure a seamless and well-coordinated defensive enterprise.”
How to get involved
The solicitation is open for industry submissions until May 16, 2025. Solution providers should expect to participate in shared testing events with other vendors, operators and government developers from each service and be prepared to rapidly scale and integrate into service Program of Record C-sUAS systems.
This solicitation aligns with E.O. 14269 – Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Industrial Base, which focuses on streamlining acquisitions to accelerate defense procurement and ensures the Armed Forces have decisive advantages now and into the future.
As part of the Replicator initiative, this call for novel capabilities also builds on multiple efforts underway elsewhere in the Department of Defense, to include the Military Services, U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), the Office of the Under Secretary of Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD A&S), and collaborative work with the United Kingdom.
