AeroVironment
AeroVironment Switchblade 300
The AeroVironment Switchblade 300 is a loitering‑munitions drone developed by AeroVironment, a company with roots in small‑unmanned aircraft dating back to the 1970s. The program began in 2012 after the success of the original Switchblade 300‑type system, and it entered U.S. Army service in 2017 as a tactical, fire‑and‑forget weapon. Weighing under 10 kg and launched from a tube or catapult, the Switchblade 300 can climb to 15 km altitude, loiter for up to 40 minutes, and travel at 150 km/h. Its compact, fold‑wing design allows rapid deployment by infantry squads, and an onboard GPS/INS navigation suite guides it to a user‑selected target, where the drone detonates an onboard high‑explosive warhead. Key features include a C‑band data link for real‑time video, programmable flight paths, and a built‑in self‑destruct capability to prevent capture. The system bridges the gap between conventional mortars and larger loitering munitions, providing precision strike with minimal collateral damage. Its operational use in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine has demonstrated the value of low‑cost, responsive strike assets, influencing modern doctrine and prompting other nations to develop similar autonomous drones. Future iterations aim to extend endurance to 60 minutes and integrate artificial‑intelligence targeting, while export licenses have opened markets in Europe and the Pacific.
Classification
Dimensions
- Length
- 49.5 centimetre
- Mass
- 1.8 kilogram
Production & History
- Unit Cost
- 6000
- Service Entry
- 2012
Design & Classification
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- AeroVironment
- Wikidata ID
- Q111740021