The US Army’s 1st Cavalry Division has conducted its first live-fire exercise with the Switchblade 600 loitering munition system at Fort Hood, Texas.
The drill demonstrated the system’s ability to engage targets up to 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from the front lines, enhancing the brigade’s operational range and targeting capabilities.
Before the live-fire exercise, soldiers underwent a five-day training course provided by the manufacturer, which covered setup, arming, and programming procedures for flight and strike missions.
“The Switchblade allows us to target vehicles or small groups of personnel from much farther away than before,” said Army Capt. Jeffrey Weller, Multifunctional Reconnaissance Troop commander, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
“It increases our lethality, minimizes collateral damage and helps protect soldiers on the front lines.”
Conducted under the division’s “Pegasus Charge” initiative, the exercise is part of the US Army’s broader “Transforming in Contact” modernization program, which aims to incorporate advanced technologies into armored units.
Upcoming plans include the 1st Cavalry Division’s use of the Switchblade 600 during its rotation at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California, further integrating the system into its operations.
Switchblade 600
The Switchblade 600 is a tube-launched, battery-powered unmanned aircraft system designed to deliver precision strikes.
Approximately 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length and weighing 75 pounds (34 kilograms), it carries a 5-pound (2.3 kilograms) Javelin-class warhead.
The system has a flight time of up to 45 minutes and a maximum range of 27 miles (43 kilometers).
Using onboard cameras, operators can guide the munition to select and engage targets.
Additionally, operators can abort a strike in flight by sending a mid‑flight “wave‑off” command.
Previous tests on the system took place earlier this month, when AeroVironment and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems conducted the first air launch of a Switchblade 600 loitering munition from an MQ‑9A Reaper in Arizona.
