The US Army has awarded AeroVironment a $51-million order for additional Switchblade 600 loitering munitions.
The US Army has awarded AeroVironment (AV) a $51-million order for additional Switchblade 600 loitering munitions, including systems for a foreign military sale to a US ally.
The deal covers Switchblade 600 Block 2 systems for the army and Block 1 systems for the unnamed ally. It was issued under the army's existing five-year, $990-million contract for lethal unmanned systems, which AeroVironment received in 2024.
The Switchblade 600 is a long-range loitering munition developed for precision attacks against targets including armored vehicles. Its ability to loiter before engaging a target distinguishes it from conventional guided munitions that are launched toward a predetermined target.
The Block 2 variant is designed for multi-domain operations and features upgraded avionics, automatic target recognition, resilient communications, and improved navigation.
AV said the upgrades are intended to improve the system's ability to detect, identify, and engage targets while operating in contested environments.
The Switchblade’s Footprint
AV’s Switchblade family includes lightweight, precision-guided loitering munitions designed for launch from ground, air, and maritime platforms.
The larger Switchblade 600 measures 1.3 meters (51 inches) long and weighs 15 kilograms (33 pounds). It can reach 185 kilometers (115 miles) per hour and fly for more than 40 minutes.
This system has become part of the Pentagon's broader effort to field expendable autonomous weapons at scale. It has been fielded across more than 20 brigade combat teams, while hundreds of US soldiers have trained to operate and employ the system since 2025.
The smaller Switchblade 300, meanwhile, is 50 centimeters (20 inches) long and weighs 3 kilograms (7 pounds), with a top speed of 160 kilometers (99 miles) per hour and more than 20 minutes of endurance.
In July, the US State Department approved a potential $80.1-million sale of Switchblade 300 Block 20 systems to Greece. The package covers 350 munitions, 35 fire control systems, and tactical battery chargers.
