GDLS Demonstrates New PERCH System, Integrating Switchblade Munitions on Abrams SEPv3 Tanks

General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) has taken a major step toward redefining U.S. armored warfare doctrine, announcing on December 5, 2025, that it successfully demonstrated its Precision Effects & Reconnaissance, Canister-Housed (PERCH) launcher on M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tanks. The test was carried out during the U.S. Army’s Machine Assisted Rugged Sapper (MARS) event at Fort Hood, Texas, and marks the first time the Abrams has been equipped to launch Switchblade loitering munitions for beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) reconnaissance and precision strike.

The trial comes as Western armies accelerate their adaptation to lessons from recent high-intensity conflicts, where drones and loitering munitions have become decisive tools for reconnaissance, counter-battery fire, and deep precision engagement.

PERCH Turns the Abrams Into a Sensor-Shooter Platform

At the center of the demonstration is the PERCH modular launcher, developed jointly by GDLS and AeroVironment. The system embeds Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 loitering munitions directly onto frontline armored platforms without requiring structural modifications to the turret. The launcher replaces the Abrams loader’s sponson box and bolts into existing hardpoints, allowing rapid integration while preserving maintainability and access.

GDLS says future versions will connect directly to vehicle digital architecture, giving crews the ability to launch and control drones through onboard systems. This non-invasive integration approach is designed to give armored units an organic BLOS reconnaissance and strike capability without waiting for new turrets or specialized vehicles.

Realistic Combat Testing at MARS

The MARS event, held from October 26–30, provided a realistic operational environment to test the concept. Soldiers operated an Abrams SEPv3 equipped with PERCH during a complex obstacle-breaching mission, using Switchblade 300 for aerial surveillance and Switchblade 600 for simulated precision strikes on high-value targets beyond the tank’s direct line of sight.

The loitering munitions delivered real-time targeting data to the crew, allowing the Abrams to engage threats over the horizon while remaining under armor. The demonstration showed how the tank could transition from a purely direct-fire role to a combined reconnaissance and precision-strike node, shaping the battlespace ahead of the formation.

Answering a New Operational Demand

PERCH directly addresses a fast-growing requirement in modern armored warfare: giving frontline units the ability to generate their own long-range precision effects instead of relying solely on artillery or air support. With the proliferation of anti-tank teams, hidden observers, and drone threats, tanks require tools to sense and strike far beyond traditional engagement ranges.

GDLS emphasizes that PERCH allows crews to launch Switchblade munitions while remaining covered and concealed, turning heavy armor into a protected launch platform for expendable drones. AeroVironment notes that integrating Switchblade systems onto armored vehicles offers immediate gains in responsiveness, reach, and survivability—particularly in urban, forested, or defiladed terrain where direct observation is limited.

Global Lessons Driving the Shift

The integration of loitering munitions onto armored platforms reflects broader lessons from conflicts in Ukraine, the South Caucasus, and the Middle East. Loitering munitions have proven highly effective at:

• suppressing anti-tank guided missile teams

• striking artillery observers

• degrading armored formations

• directing combined fires in real time

Western militaries are now accelerating efforts to equip armored forces with organic drone capabilities, counter-UAV systems, and integrated sensor networks. With PERCH, the U.S. Army is testing a concept where heavy armor is not only protected against drones but also actively contributes to the drone fight.

Rapid Development From AUSA to Field Trials

PERCH was first unveiled at the AUSA 2025 exposition in Washington, where GDLS presented it as a low-risk integration kit intended to connect to existing vehicle systems without modifying the tank structure. Just months later, the system has moved into realistic field trials with soldiers, demonstrating its readiness for further evaluation.

The Army is expected to study how PERCH might be incorporated into armor brigades, Stryker formations, and future vehicle programs. Additional testing will examine its integration with digital battle networks and potential expansion into cooperative engagement with ground and aerial unmanned systems.

A New Role for Heavy Armor

The successful MARS demonstration signals a shift in how the U.S. Army envisions armored warfare in drone-dominated environments. By equipping the Abrams with Switchblade 300 and 600 munitions, GDLS and AeroVironment are offering a model where tanks operate as integrated sensor-shooter platforms, capable of reconnaissance, deep strikes, and precision support long before direct-fire contact.

If adopted at scale, PERCH could influence the doctrine of breaching operations, reconnaissance-in-force, and distributed fires across armored formations, shaping how U.S. and allied armies prepare for high-threat future battlefields.