US Army Orders More Switchblade Kamikaze Drones From AeroVironment
AeroVironment has received a $186-million contract to provide its flagship Switchblade 600 and Switchblade 300 loitering munitions for the US Army.
The order was placed under a 2024 prime contract valued at up to $990 million to equip the service’s infantry battalions and maneuver formations with lethal, man-portable drones for five years.
According to the company, the latest shipment serves as the army’s first adoption of the next-generation 600 product line and the first Switchblade package containing an explosively formed penetrator, a self-forging warhead effective against armored capabilities.
“This delivery order reflects the Army’s confidence in the next evolution of the Switchblade family and its relevance to modern, contested battlefields,” said Brian Young, senior vice president of loitering munitions at AeroVironment.
“Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20 build on years of combat experience while delivering meaningful upgrades in autonomy, resilience, and lethality tailored to today’s operational demands.”
The Switchblade System
AeroVironment’s Switchblade portfolio offers a lightweight, precision-guided munition that can be launched from ground, air, and sea.
The drone in its 600 variant measures 130 centimeters (51 inches) long, weighs 15 kilograms (33 pounds), and has a diameter of 150 millimeters (6 inches).
It has a top speed of 185 kilometers (115 miles) per hour and an endurance of more than 40 minutes.
The 300 model spans 50 centimeters (20 inches) in length, weighs 3 kilograms (7 pounds), and has a diameter of 76 millimeters (3 inches).
The platform can travel at 160 kilometers (99 miles) per hour and stay active for over 20 minutes.
Both are offered with high-resolution electro-optical/infrared cameras, training and field operations training, associated software, and electronic countermeasure solutions.
Alongside the US, the Switchblade family of loitering munitions is operated by Lithuania, the UK, and Ukraine.
