AeroVironment has secured a $186-million order from the US Army for its Switchblade 600 and Switchblade 300 loitering munitions under a broader five-year contract potentially worth $990 million. The delivery marks the Army’s first fielding of the next-generation 600 variant equipped with an explosively formed penetrator warhead capable of defeating armored targets. The 600 model offers over 40 minutes of endurance, while the lighter 300 provides rapid-response precision fires for small units. The systems are also operated internationally, including by Lithuania, the UK, and Ukraine.
