Switchblade 600

AeroVironment developed the Switchblade 600 as a heavy, anti-armor variant of its loitering munition family. While the original Switchblade (later designated Switchblade 300) entered service in 2011, AeroVironment unveiled the 600 variant in October 2020 following 60 test flights against fixed and moving targets. The system was developed for the U.S. Army Single Multi-Mission Attack Missile program. In March 2021, the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) awarded a $26.1 million contract for the system to meet Maritime Precision Engagement (MPE) requirements for use on Combatant Craft Medium and Heavy boats. The U.S. Army subsequently ordered over 100 units in October 2023 for the Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program.

The Switchblade 600 is a man-portable system that can be deployed in 10 minutes. The total weight of the all-up round in its launch tube plus the fire control system is 54.5 kg, while the airframe alone weighs 22.7 kg. The aircraft utilizes spring-loaded wings that deploy upon tube launch. It has a dash speed of 115 mph and an operational endurance consisting of a 20-minute flight to a 40 km range followed by 20 minutes of loitering. The total range can be extended to 80 km through the use of two long-range antennas for operator handoff. Guidance is managed via a tablet-based fire control system using encrypted data links and Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) GPS. The system includes a patented wave-off capability to abort missions.

The munition is equipped with an anti-armor warhead based on the FGM-148 Javelin warhead. It is designed to engage heavy armor and tanks from an overhead trajectory.

The Switchblade 600 saw its first combat deployment during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Although the U.S. announced the transfer of the systems in early 2022, the first 10 units reached Ukraine in late 2022 because the variant was still in the prototype phase and required further evaluation. The first reported combat use occurred in spring 2023. In June 2024, a Switchblade 600 struck a Russian Buk missile launcher at a range of 30 km. Following initial deployments, the manufacturer provided software updates to increase the system's resistance to electronic warfare and jamming. Current operators include the United States, Ukraine, and Lithuania.

Main Variants

• Switchblade 300: A 2.7 kg man-portable loitering munition designed for anti-personnel and light vehicle engagements with a 10 km range.
• Block 10C: An upgraded Switchblade 300 featuring a Digital Data Link for secure communications and concurrent operation of multiple units.
• Block 20: A 3.6 kg iteration of the 300 series with 20 minutes of flight time and an improved EO/IR panning camera suite.
• Blackwing: An unarmed variant of the Switchblade 300 developed for the U.S. Navy to provide ISR and communications relay for surface and undersea vessels.
• Switchblade 600: An anti-armor variant equipped with a Javelin-derived warhead and an operational range of 40 km to 90 km depending on data link configuration.