Australia expects to receive an order of Switchblade 300 precision loitering munitions in 2024 and deploy the weapon into service in 2025 to boost the Australian Defence Force’s drone warfighting capabilities.
The acquisition of the munitions, manufactured by U.S. company AeroVironment, adds to the different drone types in the ADF arsenal that can be armed for combat, Canberra said in a statement without specifying the cost and volume of the procurement.
Switchblade 300 is portable and lightweight, with a range of about 10 kilometers. According to an Army Recognition report, Ukrainian soldiers widely use it, offering an advantage against their Russian adversaries through the system’s capability to fire a strike missile at beyond-of-sight targets.
Defence Minister for Industry Pat Conroy said the ADF’s move to enhance drone use reflects Canberra’s Defence Strategic Review, which underscores the critical priorities on “new technology and asymmetric advantage” to protect national interests.
“The delivery of this proven precision loitering munition demonstrates the speed at which we are introducing capabilities to the ADF,” he added.