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The US Army has conducted its first live-fire exercises with the Switchblade 600 munitions system in Texas.
The US Army’s 1st Cavalry Division has conducted its first live-fire exercises of the Switchblade 600 Loitering Munition System in Texas.
AeroVironment’s Switchblade 600 is a tube-launched, unmanned aerial system that has the ability to navigate target areas to strike with precision. With its flight time of up to 45 minutes and range of approximately 43 kilometres, the system is ideal for “increase[ing] our lethality, minimises collateral damage and helps protect soldiers on the front lines,” Army Captain Jeffrey Weller said.
“The Switchblade enables the brigade to engage targets with precision between five and 15 kilometers in front of our forward line of troops, extending our reach and lethality.”
The system, which is roughly 1.5 metres long and holds 15 kilograms of munition, can reach sprint speeds of up to 185 kilometers per hour, making it a key tool in the changing nature of warfare.
CPT Weller cited its value, saying, “Seeing systems like the Switchblade in action shows us the future of how our formations will fight. It’s a big step toward keeping our soldiers safer and more lethal.”
Whilst Australia has not acquired this system, last year the ADF purchased the Switchblade 300 Block 20, which has slightly less range, with endurance of 20 minutes flight time for up to 30 kilometres.
Before the drill, soldiers underwent a five-day training program provided by AeroVironment, to learn the set-up, arm, and program mechanism of the Switchblade.
Army Specialist Drake Cross said the experience was an exciting and fresh opportunity to test the capabilities and capacity of the system, highlighting its clear ease of use and user-friendly design.
“There’s not much of a learning curve. Once you identify and lock onto a target, you can adjust right up until impact to make sure you’re hitting what you want,” he said.
“This is the first one where I can actually deliver a round. It’s exciting because it saves soldiers’ lives by hitting targets without putting us in danger.”
