Weapons of Victory/Channel 24 Collage
Switchblade 300 are assassin or kamikaze drones. This weapon is capable of turning the tide of battle on its head.
A small flying bird weighs a little over 2 kilograms. It hangs in the air until it finds an enemy target, and then destroys it.
Switchblade 300 is a small, but no less deadly drone. Loitering ammunition (or as it is popularly called kamikaze drone) is already performing tasks in Ukraine.
How Switchblade works: watch the video
Features of kamikaze drones
Switchblade 300 is the development of the American company AeroVironment and was created in 2011 for the Marines in Afghanistan.
The specifics of the Afghan campaign were quite unusual. It was not always possible to get the enemy out of the artillery, because the terrorists were hiding among the civilians. The Switchblade 300 is the solution to this problem.
Weapons of Victory in full release: watch the video
Small, discreet and uncompromisingly accurate
It is small, unobtrusive and uncompromisingly accurate. This is loitering ammunition that can not only find a target, but even pursue it until it is destroyed.
Imagine that 10 Russian Grad launchers are firing at Ukrainian positions. Sometimes it's just impossible to get them. Just kamikaze drones will come in handy: a few minutes and there are no enemy launchers.
The same thing happens with the column of equipment. Kamikaze drones are just designed to destroy such targets. They are compact, agile, and models like the Switchblade 300 fit in a regular backpack .
The moment of the destruction of the target by a kamikaze drone/Screenshot from the video of AeroVironment Inc.
The drone reaches speeds of 150 kilometers per hour
Despite its modest weight of 2.5 kilograms, the Switchblade 300 can reach speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour and stay in the air for up to 15 minutes. Although the flight range is quite modest (only 10 kilometers), it is compensated by the practicality of use.
Switchblade 300 Feature/Channel 24 Infographic
How the weapon is launched
Only one person is needed to launch:
- if the launch is from a tube, it takes only 2 minutes. The principle is similar to a mortar;
- from a special launch box, preparation for launch takes up to 10 minutes.
However, everything really depends on where exactly the drone comes out to hunt. After all, this “bird” can be launched from a ship, from the ground, from an airplane, and even from a submarine.
Switchblade 300 launch from tube/Photo by AeroVironment Inc.
Next – it's up to a small motor behind the drone. It allows it to fly quietly in search of a target.
By the way! As soon as the nose of the UAV leaves the launcher, its wings instantly spread out, popping out like a knife blade. Hence the name Switchbalde or Switchblade.
A color camera allows the operator to effectively track targets, GPS navigation helps to set the route if necessary, and a 50x zoom allows you to find even the most camouflaged objects. That's not all of this little monster's skills, though.
The drone can search for its own target
Switchblade 300 systems are set up so that the drone is able to independently search for a target. It can be programmed for specific targets: for example, it can be sent to destroy an enemy “Tiger” or a truck.
Of all the targets, it will select only the one that the operator has previously indicated. You don't even need to steer – the Switchblade 300 does it all.
Killer drone demonstration: watch the video
It will be assisted by computerized systems that allow you to identify several targets at once, and then select the one to destroy.
As soon as the drone detects target – the target can no longer avoid being hit. Switchblade 300 flies into its target at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour – that's why it is called a kamikaze drone.
The most interesting thing is that the drone is inconspicuous. Because of its compact size, the Switchblade 300 is virtually invisible, leaving only minimal thermal and acoustic footprints.
Killer Drone Characteristics/AeroVironment Inc. Infographic
Ukraine has already received more than 700 of these drones
For the entire period of use of such drones by the Americans, they never reported on the results in battle. Everything was limited only to statements about “good work results”.
Ukraine has already received more than 700 of these kamikaze drones. The deliveries don't end there. The US has already announced the provision of a new generation of Switchblade – model 600.
In fact, this is the same drone, but with some improvements. If the previous version was used to destroy enemy groups and light armored vehicles, then the version 600 is capable of destroying even tanks.
Switchblade 600 specs/Channel 24 infographic
Switchblade 600 first shown in 2018 . Only in 2021, after all the tests, they were adopted by the US Army.
Already in 2022, they started talking about supplies for Ukraine – due to the full-scale invasion of the Russian army. So far, armies of only two nations have used the Switchblade:
- USA;
- UK.
From now on, Ukraine also has it in service!
Switchblade always flies to the target
Just like and the 300th version, it can be programmed for a specific target, such as an enemy T-90. The drone will fly through the air until it finds it and destroys it.
Note! The biggest advantage of using such a weapon is that it always flies to the target. According to the developers, 100 drones guarantee 100 hits.
What is the price of drones
In addition, a big plus of such weapons is the price. For example, the Switchblade 300 only costs $6,000. While the cost of Javelin starts from 249 thousand dollars, and the missiles that are put into service with various UAVs fluctuate within 100 thousand dollars per unit.
We can talk about the statistics and success of using such weapons after Ukraine's victory in this war – when every Russian occupier gets to know the Switchblade better.
