Switchblade 300
Loitering munition
The Switchblade 300 is a man-portable, expendable loitering munition designed for precision strike against personnel and light vehicles.
Mission Profile
The Switchblade 300 is primarily designed for dismounted infantry and special operations forces, providing an immediate, organic precision strike capability at the tactical edge. Its small size and light weight allow it to be carried and deployed by a single operator, making it suitable for operations where traditional artillery or air support may be unavailable or too slow.
It operates as a "kamikaze drone," loitering over a target area before engaging with its integrated warhead. The system allows for real-time video feedback and a wave-off capability, enabling operators to confirm targets and abort strikes if necessary, thereby reducing collateral damage. Its primary role is to neutralize threats such as enemy combatants, sniper positions, and light vehicles with high precision.
Key Features
- ▸Man-portable and rapidly deployable by a single operator
- ▸Precision strike capability against non-armored targets
- ▸Real-time video and GPS for target identification and engagement
- ▸Wave-off capability to abort strikes and minimize collateral damage
- ▸Integrated explosive warhead
- ▸Low acoustic and visual signature
- ▸Can be launched from various platforms including ground, air, and sea
Specifications
- ceiling
- Operational altitude up to 500 ft AGL
- configuration
- Fixed-wing, tube-launched
- endurance
- Approximately 15 minutes
- mtow
- Approximately 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
- payload
- Integrated high-explosive anti-personnel/light vehicle warhead
- propulsion
- Electric motor
- range
- Approximately 10 km (6 miles)
- speed
- Dash speed 100 mph (161 km/h)
Notable Operators
Comparable Platforms
About the Manufacturer
AeroVironment (AV) is a publicly traded defense technology company that pioneered the modern hand-launched military drone. Its product line spans small ISR UAS used by infantry units worldwide, tactical Group 3 platforms, and the Switchblade family of loitering munitions that have become signature systems of contemporary land warfare.