AeroVironment has released the latest version of the Switchblade 300 loitering missile system. This is more commonly known as a suicide drone. The Switchblade 300 Block 20 builds on its predecessor Block 10C, boasting greater durability and ease of operation.
Introduced in 2011, the Switchblade 300 series was designed to provide the U.S. Army infantry with a backpackable air support weapon. Where other drones are designed for reconnaissance, the Switchblade 300 can hover in the air until its sensors acquire a target, then destroy it using its built-in warhead.
In 2022, the Switchblade 300 came into the public eye when the United States sent 700 to Ukraine to fight Russian aggression. Needing to replenish US munitions while supplying Ukraine with additional drones, AeroVironment is abandoning Block 10C in favor of the more advanced Block 20.
Designed specifically for small expeditionary forces, the Switchblade 300 Block 20 weighs approximately 8 pounds (3.6 kg) overall and can be used by a single soldier using a tablet-based fire control system that doubles as training. is designed to be carried and operated. assistance.
The combination storage tube and launcher can get a 4 lb (2 kg) drone airborne in less than 2 minutes. The tube also includes integrated controls, allowing the system to be launched from land, sea and mobile platforms.
Once up, the new Switchblade has a top speed of 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) and a flight time of 20 minutes. This is 5 minutes longer than previous versions. It has improved digital data link (DDL) range, a new EO/IR panning camera suite that provides real-time video of the target, and the ability to send back information such as the target’s GPS coordinates. If non-combatants are seen in the target area, they can shake off the drone and retarget it against other stationary or moving targets.
“Since pioneering the loitering missile category with the Switchblade 300 more than a decade ago, our tactical missile system has proven to be a game-changing capability for both U.S. and allied forces, and a deadly threat. Brett Hush, Vice President and Product Line General Manager of Tactical Missile Systems, AeroVironment, said: “Switchblade 300 Block 20 continues to build on the system’s battle-proven legacy.”
Watch a video introducing the Switchblade 300 Block 20 on YouTube.
Source: Aerovironment
