AeroVironment Gets Switchblade 600 Contract | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-06.23.25

Airborne-NextGen-06.24.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.25.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.26.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.27.25

Sat, Nov 13, 2021

AeroVironment Gets Switchblade 600 Contract

$20.3 Million Deal for Loitering Tactical Missile System

For years, “smart” missiles, the hypothetical autonomous munitions have remained a futuristic element relegated to media and gaming.

Finally, it seems, reality is catching up to fiction. Referred to as a “Loitering Missile”, the Switchblade 600 represents a new generation of semi-autonomous, ranged munitions that have come of age in recent years to face rapid integration into armed forces looking for enhanced lethality with minimal operations footprints. Consisting of a man-portable, 33 pound, drone-like warhead and 50 pound launch and communications system, the weapon system offers considerable flexibility in munitions delivery with very small changes to existing infrastructure, easing integration and loading. The trend has continued with their new contract for $20.3 million with USSOCOM, one of the more well-heeled military buyers ready to integrate bleeding-edge technology into their combat capabilities. 

Flexibility is the greatest benefit of the loitering missile system, with other boons like speed, ease, and portability that make it possible for missions to be planned and operational in less than 10 minutes. Using the small tube launcher, the Switchblade is sent into a holding pattern above, capable of 40 minutes’ hang time awaiting command, equipped with precision EO/IR gimbaled sensors, precision flight control, and an anti-armor warhead.

The self-contained system awaits instructions and targeting for non-line-of-sight targets and light-armored vehicles for precise lethality without the need for external ISR or surveillance assets. If conditions change, or the target unavailable, the command can be waved-off and recommitted to other targets according to operator command. AeroVironment notes the easy integration across any branch, with the system usable from fixed defensive positions, combat vehicles, or air-launched applications as necessary. 

The contract will be filled by January 2023. The purchase is a feather in the cap for AeroVironment, as they further develop their Switchblade series and Blackwing loitering reconnaissance systems. It’s no secret that any system fielded by the “tip of the spear” SOCOM units becomes the newest must-have tactical trend, as so many manufacturers can attest to.

FMI: www.avinc.com/tms/switchblade-600

Advertisement

More News

TikToker Arrested After Landing His C182 in Antarctica

19-Year-Old Pilot Was Attempting to Fly Solo to All Seven Continents On his journey to become the first pilot to land solo on all seven continents, 19-year-old Ethan Guo has hit a >[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Versatile AND Practical - The All-Seeing Aeroprakt A-22 LSA

From 2017 (YouTube Edition): A Quality LSA For Well Under $100k… Aeroprakt unveiled its new LSA at the Deland Sport Aviation Showcase in November. Dennis Long, U.S. Importer>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (06.27.25): Hazardous Weather Information

Hazardous Weather Information Summary of significant meteorological information (SIGMET/WS), convective significant meteorological information (convective SIGMET/WST), urgent pilot>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.27.25)

Aero Linx: Historic Aircraft Association (HAA) The Historic Aircraft Association (HAA) was founded in 1979 with the aim of furthering the safe flying of historic aircraft in the UK>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (06.27.25)

"We would like to remember Liam not just for the way he left this world, but for how he lived in it... Liam was fearless, not necessarily because he wasn't afraid but because he re>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC