USMC narrows down field for light loitering munition requirement
AeroVironment is offering its Switchblade 300 Block 20 to meet the USMC's OPV-L requirement. (Image: AeroVironment)
The US Marine Corps selected a team of UVision and Mistral to meet a requirement for Organic Precision Fires Mounted (OPF-M) loitering munition in 2021. It has now awarded contracts for the soldier carried light (OPF-L) version after the success of similar systems in Ukraine highlighted the potential for such weapons.
The US Marine Corps (USMC) has awarded contracts to three companies – AeroVironment, Anduril Industries and Teledyne FLIR Defense – for the development of small loitering munitions in deals which could be total as much as US$289 million.
The contracts were for the build, test, support and delivery of a non-developmental item loitering munition system designed to provide dismounted marines in the infantry rifle squad with precision-strike capability against adversaries beyond the line of sight.
The OPF-L will be man-packable and consist of the loitering munition, related ground control station, training simulator and ancillary equipment needed to support the technology, according to the
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