WASHINGTON — General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) has introduced PERCH 2.0, an upgraded system developed with AeroVironment that allows M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tanks and Stryker armoured vehicles to launch Switchblade 300 loitering munitions directly from their platforms.
PERCH stands for Precision Effects & Reconnaissance, Canister-Housed. It provides beyond-line-of-sight reconnaissance and strike capabilities, allowing crews to locate and engage targets behind buildings, hills and tree lines while remaining protected inside their vehicles.
The upgraded system was showcased ahead of the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) exhibition. Four PERCH 2.0 prototypes are scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Army’s 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas, by the end of October 2026 for further testing.
PERCH 2.0 💥 Our Precision Effects & Reconnaissance, Canister-Housed technology, created in partnership with AV, has been upgraded for 2026. The PERCH common modular kit integrates onto M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tanks and Stryker vehicles to provide beyond line of sight (BLOS) surveillance and over-the-horizon lethality via AeroVironment Switchblade SB300 loitering munitions. #ThePowerToWin
— General Dynamics Land Systems (@GD_LandSystems) October 21, 2026
Design and Upgrades
PERCH uses a modular, bolt-on design that requires no cutting or welding of vehicle armour. On the Abrams, it replaces the loader’s sponson box, a storage compartment on the side of the turret, and attaches to existing mounting points.
The 2026 version focuses on the smaller Switchblade 300, unlike the original system, which supported both the Switchblade 300 and the larger Switchblade 600, designed for anti-armour missions. The original canister could hold one Switchblade 600 and three Switchblade 300s.
Based on Army feedback, PERCH 2.0 includes easier reloading, increased storage space, improved beyond-line-of-sight technology and the ability to launch without opening vehicle hatches. The current version operates independently, while future versions are intended to connect directly to onboard vehicle computer systems.
The Army purchased three prototypes under the Abrams System Technical Support contract, with the additions made in August 2026. GDLS funded development of the original system and the first PERCH 2.0 prototype through internal research and development.
Field Testing and Switchblade Capabilities
GDLS and AeroVironment first unveiled PERCH at the AUSA exhibition in October 2025. The original system was subsequently tested during the U.S. Army’s Machine Assisted Rugged Sapper (MARS) event at Fort Hood from October 26 to 30, 2025.
During the exercise, soldiers launched Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 munitions from an Abrams tank to provide forward reconnaissance and target high-value objectives while ground forces conducted a complex obstacle breach.
The Switchblade 300 is a tube-launched loitering munition that provides real-time video, can attack targets and can abort and recommit when required. Recent Block 20 configurations offer more than 20 minutes of endurance.
The United States began supplying Switchblade munitions to Ukraine in 2022, and the U.S. Army has also ordered them for its own units. PERCH allows armoured crews to deploy the weapons directly from their vehicles instead of relying on dismounted soldiers to launch them.
Future Applications
GDLS has identified the Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) and the British Army’s Ajax as potential platforms for adapting PERCH.
The U.S. Army is also exploring loitering-munition integration on next-generation armoured vehicles. Both GDLS’s Wolf and American Rheinmetall’s Lynx, the two contenders in the Army’s XM30 programme to replace the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, offer options for mounting similar drone systems.
The planned prototype testing will help the Army evaluate PERCH 2.0’s integration with Abrams tanks and its ability to extend reconnaissance and engagement capabilities while keeping crews protected inside their vehicles.
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