AeroVironment wins US Army Switchblade award
AeroVironment has received new orders that will see it supply the Switchblade tactical missile systems, ancillary equipment and support to the US Army. The five orders, valued at a total of $15.8 million, were awarded by the US Army Close Combat Weapons Systems Program Executive Office Missiles and Space (PEO MS).
Switchblade is a tactical missile system designed to provide a rapid, lethal, pinpoint precision strike capability with minimal collateral damage at beyond-line-of-sight ranges. The rapidly deployable, back-packable package weighs six pounds.
AeroVironment will continue its work with ATK to produce and deliver the systems under these orders. The company received the initial contract in August 2012 in support of the US Army’s Rapid Equipping Force (REF).
Roy Minson, senior vice president and general manager, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, AeroVironment, said: ‘Switchblade is the first smart loitering weapon, giving our troops a new force protection capability that can deliver precision effects kilometres away with in-flight retargeting, target verification and pinpoint delivery, all resulting in little or no collateral effects. AeroVironment and ATK stand ready to deliver more Switchblade systems to protect our troops.’
Tim Conver, chairman and chief executive officer, AeroVironment, added: ‘Adoption of innovative new solutions within the Department of Defense is difficult in today’s budget constrained environment. These follow-on procurements of Switchblade systems demonstrate our customer’s confidence in this unique capability and the persistence required for the successful adoption and deployment of innovative solutions.’
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System (LMAMS) (Contracted) [US Army]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![Borsuk IFV programme marks turning point for Poland’s armoured modernisation]()
Borsuk IFV programme marks turning point for Poland’s armoured modernisation
The Borsuk vehicles are to replace the Soviet-designed BMP-1 as the Polish military’s main tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).
-
![DroneShield nets largest order ever with $40 million European CUAS contract]()
DroneShield nets largest order ever with $40 million European CUAS contract
The package of three standalone follow-on contracts makes this the largest contract won by the Australian company and larger than its total 2024 revenue.
-
![US Army modernisation plans raise big concerns for lawmakers]()
US Army modernisation plans raise big concerns for lawmakers
The termination of programmes such as JLTV and RCV has been harshly criticised by members of the US Congress.
-
![The power of partnership: GDMS–UK deepens cooperation with the British Army]()
The power of partnership: GDMS–UK deepens cooperation with the British Army
In Conversation: Shephard's Gerrard Cowan talks to General Dynamics Mission Systems–United Kingdom’s Chris Burrows about how the company's UK TacCIS business is reshaping battlefield communications through sustained customer engagement, accelerated innovation and ecosystem collaboration.
-
![Sweden to purchase IRIS-T air defence systems for $930 million]()
Sweden to purchase IRIS-T air defence systems for $930 million
This recent purchase of the medium-range air defence system adds to the country’s ongoing efforts to ramp up its overall defence readiness and capabilities.
