AeroVironment secures $51 million U.S. Army order for Switchblade 600

AeroVironment has secured a $51 million delivery order from the U.S. Army for Switchblade 600 loitering munition systems. The order includes both Switchblade 600 Block 1 and the newer Block 2 variants.

This procurement is part of a larger five-year, $990 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Lethal Unmanned Systems established in August 2024. While the IDIQ sets a total ceiling, this $51 million represents specifically funded work.

The order also includes Block 1 systems intended to support a Foreign Military Sale to a key U.S. ally. Since 2025, the Switchblade 600 has been fielded across more than 20 brigade combat teams, with hundreds of U.S. soldiers trained on its operation.

The Block 2 upgrade features enhanced autonomy, resilience, and lethality designed for contested environments. Key technical improvements include upgraded avionics, improved navigation for GPS-disrupted areas, and the integration of SPOTR AiTR technology for automatic target recognition. The system also utilizes Silvus MANET radios to support distributed operations and resilient communications.