AeroVironment receives $186 million U.S. Army order for Switchblade 600 Block 2 and 300 Block 20 loitering munition systems

The delivery order marks the Army’s first procurement of AeroVironment’s next-generation Switchblade product line. It is also the first Switchblade order to include an explosively formed penetrator payload, providing enhanced lethality against armored threats.

“This delivery order reflects the Army’s confidence in the next evolution of the Switchblade family and its relevance to modern, contested battlefields,” said Brian Young, Senior Vice President of Loitering Munitions at AeroVironment. “Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20 build on years of combat experience while delivering meaningful upgrades in autonomy, resilience, and lethality tailored to today’s operational demands.”

The Switchblade 600 Block 2 is the company’s most advanced long-range loitering munition to date and is designed for multi-domain operations, including maritime and highly contested environments. Developed in collaboration with United States Special Operations Command, the system features upgraded avionics, advanced Automatic Target Recognition, resilient communications including Silvus MANET radios, and improved navigation to operate effectively in GPS-challenged environments.

The Switchblade 300 Block 20 introduces a modular payload capability to the backpackable loitering munition. For the first time, the Army has procured the system with an explosively formed penetrator payload while maintaining its portability, speed, and ease of use at the small-unit level.

The Block 20 configuration also includes sensor improvements, enhanced user interfaces, and extended range options. These upgrades are designed to deliver rapid, precision effects beyond line of sight.

Together, the Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20 provide a scalable family of precision loitering munitions for use across echelons and mission sets. The systems range from lightweight, single-operator platforms to long-endurance, multi-domain capabilities.

“This delivery order further advances the Army’s Lethal Unmanned Systems Directed Requirement and reinforces AV’s role as the leading provider of combat-proven loitering munition systems,” Young said. “As we continue to invest in expanding Switchblade manufacturing capacity and accelerating delivery timelines, we are continuing to meet the growing demand for these products from U.S. and allied forces.”