The service did away with the pursuit of a new manned armed scout helicopter and is grappling with how to fill the gap using a network of smart drones.
The new funding — the largest tranche of USAI aid sent to date - will include a wide array of munitions for air defense, such NASAM, HIMARS and Patriots.
Australian, UK and US companies may see greater collaboration under AUKUS. But they're not waiting on official details - many are working together already.
The Pentagon's acquisition chief said this week that as DoD considers which systems to field through Replicator, production capacity will be a key factor.
Made with cardboard, wooden dowels and rubber bands, this disposable drone adds another flexible option to militaries around the world — including Ukraine.