One of the evolutionary offshoots of the field of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) is the loitering munition - portable or vehicle-launched dispensable air vehicles designed to neutralize embedded enemies. For AeroVironment, whose proven UAV product line up is long and deep, provides such a solution through its impressive "Switchblade" loitering missile. The Switchblade is a self-contained, man-portable or vehicle-mounted product for search-and-destroy actions.
The Switchblade drone takes to the air via its provided launch tube and the complete package (drone, launch tube, and payload) can be deployed in seconds at the squad-level - serving both special forces operatives as well as conventional infantry with equal efficiency. Carry weight is just 5.5lb while the complete system can be hauled in a basic rucksack. A hinged bipod supports the launch tube when made ready-to-fire on the ground. Its compact size, relatively low operating acoustics, and low thermal output allow it to break through most any defense unnoticed.
The design of the UAV is centered on a tubular fuselage which contains all pertinent operating components including the drive motor - providing power to the twin-bladed propeller unit at the rear ("pusher" configuration) - avionics set, and camera equipment. Twin low-mounted mainplanes are featured fore and aft along the fuselage and a twin-vertical tailplane arrangement is used. All wing surfaces hinged and spring into action upon launch.
The system sports full GPS support and offers real-time video, making the product capable of Search-and-Track (SaT) functionality as well as engagement. Targeting optics include dual front- and side-looking Electro-Optical (EO) cameras as well as a nose-mounted camera fitting with fully-stabilized electronic pan/tilt/zoom. All this adds precision in the strike action, reducing collateral damage considerably while a "wave off" capability ensures the air vehicle can be called off before it fully commits to the attack should the situation change.
Switchblade features a 10 kilometer range with 15 minute endurance window and maximum speeds can reach near 100 miles-per-hour while cruising is closer to 63 mph. Operating altitudes of the standard Switchblade product are under 500 feet though other variants are shown to operate over 15,000 feet according to marketing materials.
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October 2020 - AeroVironment has revealed its Switchblade 600 anti-armor loitering munition unmanned air vehicle.
March 2021 - The United Kingdom is in line to purchase a stock of Switchblade loitering munitions, marking the nation as the first foreign operator of the type.
April 2021 - U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has committed to the purchase of the AeroVironment 600 loitering munition through a $26.1 million USD contract.
March 2022 - The United States has confirmed that it will be sending at least 100 Switchblade loitering munitions UAV units to Ukraine for its fight against Russia.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
✓Special Forces
Serving Special Forces / Special Operations elements and missions.
✓Unmanned Capability
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.
UNMANNED OPERATION
Design features ability to fly sans pilot, actions controlled onboard through programming and / or ground-based operator.
AUTONOMOUS OPERATION
Design features autonomous flight operations made possible through onboard artificial intelligence or pre-programming.
CAMERA EQUIPMENT
Payload supports photographic equipment providing still and / or real-time image / video results.
Empty Wgt
4 lb (2 kg)
MTOW
4 lb (2 kg)
Wgt Diff
+0 lb (+0 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base AeroVironment Switchblade production variant)
monoplane / low-mounted / straight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Low-Mounted
Mainplanes are low-mounted along the sides of the fuselage.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the base AeroVironment Switchblade production variant)
Installed:
1 x Motor driving twin-bladed propeller at rear of fuselage in pusher configuration.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base AeroVironment Switchblade production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Switchblade - Base Series Designation.
Switchblade MPL - Multi-Pack Launcher incorporates six Switchblade drones with rapid reload functionality; for use on warships, vehicles, and aircraft.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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Ukraine (announced); United States
