The U.S. Army recently submitted a $186 million delivery order with Virginia-based AeroVironment, an autonomous systems and precision strike solutions provider, for the Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20 explosively formed penetrator (EFP) loitering munition systems.
The order was issued under an existing five-year, $990 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for lethal unmanned systems that was awarded in August.
This is the first time the Army has procured the Switchblade product line.
“This delivery order reflects the Army’s confidence in the next evolution of the Switchblade family and its relevance to modern, contested battlefields,” Brian Young, AeroVironment senior vice president of loitering munitions, said. “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 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20 provide a scalable family of precision loitering munitions designed to operate seamlessly across echelons and mission sets.
The Switchblade 600 Block 2 is designed for multidomain operations and ruggedized for maritime and highly contested environments.
The Switchblade 300 Block 20 introduces modular payload capability and includes sensor improvements, enhanced user interfaces, and extended range options.