New $51M deal unleashes Switchblade loitering munition for 70+ mile precision strikes

The U.S. Army has ordered another $51 million worth of AeroVironment’s Switchblade 600 loitering munition systems. The purchase includes the newer Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Block 1 variants. Some Block 1 systems will support a Foreign Military Sale to a U.S. ally. AeroVironment received the order through the Army’s five-year Lethal Unmanned Systems contract. The broader agreement carries a potential value of $990 million. The purchase expands the Army’s growing inventory of long-range loitering weapons. More than 20 brigade combat teams have already received Switchblade 600 systems. Hundreds of U.S. soldiers have also trained on the weapon since 2025. The growing deployment gives the Army experience with the system before Block 2 reaches wider formations. The upgraded version brings new capabilities for contested battlefield conditions. Block 2 adds new capabilities Switchblade 600 Block 2 aims to operate where communications and navigation face disruption. Those conditions increasingly shape how the Army evaluates unmanned systems. AeroVironment upgraded the system’s avionics and navigation capabilities. The weapon also incorporates automatic target recognition through its SPOTR AiTR technology. That capability can help operators detect and identify potential targets faster. It could also reduce the workload involved in monitoring targets during missions. Resilient communications form another major part of the upgrade. The system uses Silvus MANET radios to support distributed operations and longer handoff distances. Those handoffs could allow different units to maintain control during an operation. They may also give commanders greater flexibility across wider areas. Block 2 also includes improvements for GPS-disrupted environments. The changes aim to maintain mission effectiveness when navigation signals become unreliable. The system was developed with input from U.S. Special Operations Command. AeroVironment also ruggedized the weapon for maritime and highly contested environments. Brian Young, AeroVironment’s senior vice president for loitering munitions, said the Army’s investment reflects growing demand for long-range precision weapons. “Block 2 continues to deliver meaningful upgrades in autonomy, resilience, and lethality,” Young said. He said the upgrades address Army requirements in contested operations. Production capacity keeps growing The $51 million order follows earlier Army purchases of the next-generation Switchblade family. It also adds another delivery commitment under the larger Lethal Unmanned Systems framework. Switchblade 600 fills a different role than smaller, portable loitering munitions. The larger weapon can engage armored vehicles and other high-value targets at longer distances. That gives ground units another precision strike option without relying solely on artillery or manned aircraft. Loitering munitions have attracted growing military interest following recent conflicts. Their combination of surveillance and strike capabilities has changed how forces approach precision attacks. An operator can launch the system, search for a target, and strike when conditions allow. The approach can also keep personnel farther from the target area. Army formations also gain another option between direct-fire weapons and longer-range strike assets. AeroVironment says it is expanding manufacturing capacity to support growing demand. The company also aims to accelerate deliveries as additional orders arrive.The new purchase adds more Switchblade 600 systems to the Army’s expanding unmanned arsenal. It reinforces interest in weapons that can find targets, withstand interference, and strike at range. As Block 2 enters service, the $51 million award will give the Army a more capable version of a weapon already fielded across its brigade formations.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Aamir is a seasoned tech journalist with experience at Exhibit Magazine, Republic World, and PR Newswire. With a deep love for all things tech and science, he has spent years decoding the latest innovations and exploring how they shape industries, lifestyles, and the future of humanity.