AeroVironment has been awarded a $186 million contract to supply its Switchblade 600 and Switchblade 300 loitering munitions to the United States Army.
The procurement falls under a 2024 prime agreement worth up to $990 million over five years, aimed at equipping infantry battalions and maneuver units with lethal, man-portable drone systems.
The company stated that this delivery marks the Army’s first fielding of the next-generation Switchblade 600 line, as well as the first package to incorporate an explosively formed penetrator warhead designed to defeat armored targets.
The Switchblade System
AeroVironment’s Switchblade family consists of lightweight, precision-guided loitering munitions deployable from land, air, or maritime platforms.
The Switchblade 600 measures 130 centimeters in length, weighs 15 kilograms, and has a 150-millimeter diameter. It can reach speeds of 185 km/h (115 mph) and remain airborne for more than 40 minutes.
The smaller Switchblade 300 is 50 centimeters long, weighs 3 kilograms, and features a 76-millimeter diameter. It travels at speeds up to 160 km/h (99 mph) and offers endurance exceeding 20 minutes.
Both variants are equipped with high-resolution electro-optical/infrared sensors and are supported by training packages, operational software, and electronic countermeasure capabilities. In addition to the US, the systems are operated by Lithuania, the UK, and Ukraine.
