AeroVironment, a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), announced it was awarded a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract on 31 March by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for US$26 million with US$7 million funded upon receipt. The contract includes delivery and integration of Switchblade 600 tactical missile systems into specialised maritime platforms, scheduled to be completed by January 2023.
“Our team worked closely with our customers to develop Switchblade 600, a loitering missile system that addresses the increasingly complex needs and mission requirements of counterinsurgency operations and those against peer and near-peer adversaries,” said Brett Hush, AeroVironment vice president and product line general manager for tactical missile systems. “Integrating Switchblade 600 into combat platforms, such as the USSOCOM’s specialised maritime vessels, enhances force overmatch, minimises warfighter exposure to enemy direct and indirect fires and accelerates the maturation of this innovative solution.”
The AeroVironment Switchblade 600 is an all-in-one, man portable solution equipped with a high-performance EO/IR gimbaled sensor suite, precision flight control and more than 40 minutes of flight time to deliver unprecedented tactical reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA). Its anti-armour warhead enables engagement and prosecution of hardened static and moving light armoured vehicles from multiple angles – without external ISR or fires assets – for precise, localised effects and minimal collateral damage.
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