The contract, valued at USD 55 million, is expected to be completed by the end of June 2026. Full funding for the purchase was secured upon signing, with contributions from both the U.S. Army’s budget and foreign military sales (FMS) funds from export customers. According to the Department of Defense, the systems will be delivered to three European nations: Lithuania, Romania, and Sweden. However, details regarding the number of units or the distribution among these countries have not been disclosed.
AeroVironment’s Switchblade systems are available in two primary variants: the Switchblade 300 and the Switchblade 600. The Switchblade 300 is designed for targeting fortified positions or individual personnel, with a range of up to 10 kilometres or 15 minutes of flight time. In contrast, the Switchblade 600 has a longer endurance of 40 minutes or a range of over 90 kilometres, making it suitable for neutralising armoured vehicles.
The Switchblade system is currently being extensively used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which continue to receive shipments under the U.S. Department of Defense’s military assistance programme.
Source: U.S. Department of Defense.
