AeroVironment Switchblade 300 Block 20 loitering munition

Overview:

The Switchblade 300 Block 20 is a loitering munition manufactured by AeroVironment. The ‘next generation successor to the Switchblade 300’, the Switchblade Block 20 ‘offers enhanced operational features including a high-resolution EO/IR panning camera suite, longer endurance, and a new touchscreen Fire Control Unit (FCU) allowing the operator to train, plan and execute missions with ease.’ AeroVironment describes the Switchblade Block 20 as a ‘lightweight, miniature, precision-guided lethal missile’, and as a ‘rapidly deployable precision strike munition for engaging beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) with lethal effects’, which delivers ‘the actionable intelligence and precision firepower needed to achieve mission success across multiple domains.'^[1]AeroVironment, Switchblade, https://www.avinc.com/lms/switchblade; AeroVironment, Switchblade 300 Block 20, … Continue reading

The Switchblade 300 Block 20 ‘provides real-time video and Cursor-on-Target GPS coordinates’, and is canister launched ‘in less than two minutes’.

Autonomy:

The Switchblade ‘contains cameras, and video from these sensors, as well as GPS information and image processing, is used to guide the Switchblade. The Switchblade is also designed to receive targeting information from other drones, allowing it to follow and find selected targets’; this makes the Switchblade  a weapon ‘that can be directed against a target with the targeting information provided by other drones’^[2]Popular Science, ‘What are Switchblade drones?’, https://www.popsci.com/technology/switchblade-drones-explained/

The Switchblade Block 20 is said to be able to ‘loiter in the air until its sensors acquire a target then destroy it using a built-in warhead that delivers a forward-firing shotgun blast effect to minimize collateral damage'^[3]New Atlas, AeroVironment introduces latest Switchblade 300 suicide drone’, https://newatlas.com/military/aerovironment-introduces-latest-switchblade-300-suicide-drone/

Wahid Nawabi, CEO of AeroVironment, has said that ‘the technology to achieve a fully autonomous mission with Switchblade pretty much exists today.’ At present, the system requires a human to confirm the target.^[4]VOA News, ‘Drone advances in Ukraine could bring dawn of killer robots’, https://www.voanews.com/a/drone-advances-in-ukraine-could-bring-dawn-of-killer-robots/6902931.html

Instances of use:

The Switchblade 300 and 600 are in use by Ukrainian forces.^[5]Defense News, ‘Switchblade kamikaze drone production to ramp up following Ukraine … Continue reading