ARLINGTON, Va. : AeroVironment, Inc. has secured a $186 million delivery order from the U.S. Army for its next-generation Switchblade loitering munition systems, including the Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20 variants equipped with explosively formed penetrator (EFP) payloads.
The award was issued under the Army’s existing five-year, $990 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Lethal Unmanned Systems (LUS), which was originally awarded to AeroVironment in August 2024. The IDIQ structure enables the Army to place task and delivery orders for specified systems and capabilities as operational requirements evolve.
First Army Procurement of EFP-Equipped Switchblade Variants
The $186 million order represents the first procurement of AeroVironment’s next-generation Switchblade product line intended for infantry and maneuver formations under the LUS framework. It also marks the first U.S. Army Switchblade acquisition to include explosively formed penetrator payloads.
The EFP configuration is designed to increase effectiveness against armored targets by shaping the explosive charge into a high-velocity penetrator capable of defeating protective armor. Its integration into the Switchblade 300 Block 20 expands the system’s lethality while maintaining the portability associated with the original platform.
Brian Young, Senior Vice President of Loitering Munitions at AeroVironment, stated that the order reflects continued Army confidence in the Switchblade family and its alignment with current battlefield requirements. He noted that the Block 2 and Block 20 configurations incorporate upgrades in autonomy, resilience, and lethality derived from operational experience.
Switchblade 600 Block 2: Extended-Range, Multi-Domain Capability
The Switchblade 600 Block 2 is designed as an extended-range loitering munition capable of supporting multi-domain operations. Developed in collaboration with United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the system incorporates upgraded avionics and advanced Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) to enable faster identification and engagement of threats.
The Block 2 variant also integrates resilient communications architecture, including Silvus MANET radios, to maintain connectivity in contested or GPS-challenged environments. These features are intended to support operations where electronic warfare, signal disruption, or degraded navigation conditions are present.
The system is structured to provide increased operational endurance and improved survivability in complex engagement scenarios, expanding its role in anti-armor and long-range precision strike missions.
Switchblade 300 Block 20: Modular Payload and Enhanced Lethality
The Switchblade 300 Block 20 builds on the original backpackable configuration widely used by small tactical units. The updated variant introduces a modular payload architecture, allowing for integration of different warhead options, including the newly incorporated EFP payload.
With the EFP warhead, the Block 20 configuration provides enhanced lethality against armored threats while preserving its lightweight, single-operator deployable design. Additional upgrades include improved sensor performance, refined user interfaces, and extended-range options for engaging targets beyond the operator’s line of sight.
These enhancements are intended to provide infantry units with expanded engagement flexibility without significantly increasing logistical burden.
Scalable Capability for Infantry and Maneuver Units
The combined procurement of the Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20 systems provides the Army with scalable loitering munition capabilities. The 300 Block 20 supports lightweight, rapidly deployable missions conducted by small units, while the 600 Block 2 offers extended-range, anti-armor and multi-domain operational reach.
The delivery order falls within the broader LUS contract framework, which enables the Army to incrementally modernize its unmanned lethal systems portfolio over the five-year contract period. The inclusion of EFP-equipped variants signals an expanded focus on armored target engagement within maneuver formations.
With this $186 million task order, AeroVironment advances the fielding of its next-generation Switchblade systems under the Army’s ongoing Lethal Unmanned Systems acquisition program.
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