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TL;DR: U.S. Army awarded AeroVironment a $186M delivery order under the LUS IDIQ for next‑generation Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20 loitering munitions—the first Army buys of these variants and the first Switchblade to field an EFP warhead. The 600 Block 2 provides long‑range, maritime/contested‑environment capability with ATR, resilient comms (Silvus MANET) and GPS‑denied navigation for anti‑armor engagements, while the backpack‑portable 300 Block 20 adds a modular EFP payload, sensor/UI upgrades and extended range for beyond‑line‑of‑sight small‑unit effects, supporting the Army’s tiered LUS requirement and driving increased production to meet U.S. and allied demand.
$186 Million Delivery Order Under Existing LUS Contract
AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) has received a $186 million delivery order from the U.S. Army for Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20 loitering munition systems. The order was issued under the Army’s five-year, $990 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Lethal Unmanned Systems (LUS), awarded in August 2024.
This marks the Army’s first procurement of the company’s next-generation Switchblade variants under the LUS contract. It is also the first Army order of a Switchblade system equipped with an Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP) payload.
Switchblade 600 Block 2 Capabilities
The Switchblade 600 Block 2 is designed as a long-range loitering munition intended for multi-domain operations, including maritime and contested environments. Developed in collaboration with U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the system incorporates upgraded avionics and Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) technology to support faster target detection and engagement.
The platform integrates resilient communications systems, including Silvus MANET radios, to enable distributed operations and extended handoff ranges. It also features navigation and mission resilience enhancements intended to maintain effectiveness in GPS-degraded or denied environments. The system is designed for engagements against armored and other high-value targets.
Switchblade 300 Block 20 and EFP Payload
The Switchblade 300 Block 20 introduces a modular payload configuration to the backpack-portable loitering munition. Under this order, the Army has procured the system with an EFP payload, expanding its effectiveness against armored threats.
In addition to the new warhead option, the Block 20 configuration includes sensor upgrades, user interface improvements, and extended range options. The system retains its single-operator portability and is designed to deliver beyond-line-of-sight precision effects at the small-unit level.
Operational Context and LUS Requirements
The delivery supports the Army’s Lethal Unmanned Systems Directed Requirement, which aims to field scalable loitering munition capabilities across infantry and maneuver formations. Together, the Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20 provide a tiered capability set, ranging from lightweight systems for dismounted troops to longer-endurance platforms suited for broader operational roles.
According to AeroVironment, the order reflects ongoing efforts to expand production capacity and accelerate deliveries to meet demand from U.S. and allied forces. The Army’s procurement represents a step in fielding updated loitering munition systems with enhanced autonomy, communications resilience, and anti-armor lethality under the existing LUS contract framework.
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