Switchblade 600

A man-portable, tube-launched loitering munition scaled up from the smaller Switchblade 300 to defeat armored vehicles and other hardened targets. It has been supplied to Ukraine as part of US security assistance for anti-armor operations.

Max speed

185 km/h

Range

40 km

Combat weight

27 kg

💲 Publicly cited approximate round unit cost

Full specifications

Performance

Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.

Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.: 185 km/h

0th pct in class
Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station.: 113 km/h

0th pct in class
Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.: 40 km

0th pct in class
Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon.: 3,000 m

0th pct in class
Endurance Time on station. Critical for UAVs and patrol platforms — higher means longer persistent coverage.: 0.7 h

0th pct in class

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range.: 4 kg

0th pct in class
Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable.: Anti-armor tandem-charge shaped warhead

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.: 1.2 m
Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.: 27 kg
Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.: 0

Propulsion

Engine, power and fuel.

Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…: Electric motor with tube-launch booster

Sensors & avionics

Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.

Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights.: Electro-optical/infrared gimbaled seeker
Datalink Network connectivity: Link 16, MADL, national datalinks. Enables cooperative engagement.: Encrypted two-way LOS datalink

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper.: $100,000

75th pct in class
Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.: 1,000

75th pct in class
Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.: 2

0th pct in class

Specifications compiled from public AeroVironment and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-01.

Frequently asked questions

What is the top speed of the AeroVironment Switchblade 600? +

The AeroVironment Switchblade 600 has a maximum speed of 185 km/h.

What is the range of the AeroVironment Switchblade 600? +

The AeroVironment Switchblade 600 has a maximum range of 40 km.

How much does the AeroVironment Switchblade 600 weigh? +

The AeroVironment Switchblade 600 has a combat weight of 27 kg.

How many crew does the AeroVironment Switchblade 600 require? +

The AeroVironment Switchblade 600 requires a crew of 0.

What is the AeroVironment Switchblade 600 used for? +

The AeroVironment Switchblade 600 is a uav / drone typically used for anti armor.

How many countries operate the AeroVironment Switchblade 600? +

The AeroVironment Switchblade 600 is operated by 2 countries.

How much does the AeroVironment Switchblade 600 cost? +

The AeroVironment Switchblade 600 has an approximate unit cost of 100,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration — treat this as directional.