Americas kamikaze drone makes the skies way less friendly. The companies are aerovironment, iat and textron defense systems. Aerovironments switchblade is carried and operated by a single soldier. Aerovironment is particularly coy about divulging switchblade s cost. Aerovironment uas business segment vicepresident and general manager kirk flittie said. The quantix is a key piece to a larger end to end solution aerovironment. It is designed as a kamikaze, being able to crash into its target with an explosive warhead to destroy it. Aerovironment successfully conducts maritime demonstration. In late june 2011, the us army gave aerovironment a contract to begin fielding switchblade uav. Aerovironment is a technology solutions provider of unmanned aircraft solutions. Switchblade tactical missile system army technology. Aerovironments switchblade is designed to provide the warfighter.
The switchblade is a loitering munition developed by aerovironment. May 08, 2015 aerovironment, which is based in monrovia, calif. A product of aerovironment, the aircraft is light enough to be manpackable, simple enough to be deployed in minutes and can fly off over the horizon sending back video. Army has ordered aerovironment s switchblade lethal miniature aerial missile system. Block 10c upgrade orders the us army has contracted aerovironment to provide upgraded hardware and parts for the switchblade precision strike munition. Forces in iraq and afghanistan are beginning initial deployment of the switchblade unmanned aerial system uas. Two representative systems in this category are a new point and toss minidrone from iat and the switchblade developed.
The new switchblade block 10c is the result of close collaboration between our u. Switchblade is the first smart loitering weapon, giving our troops a new force protection capability that can deliver precision effects kilometers away with inflight retargeting, target verification and pinpoint delivery, all resulting. Apr 23, 2018 april 23 upi aerovironment has been awarded a contract by the u. Aerovironment s combat proven switchblade continues to provide conventional and special operations forces with a backpackable, rapidly deployable, loitering precision strike munition for use against beyondlineofsight blos targets. Aerovironment wins us army award for switchblade lmams and. Aerovironment will work with atk, its munition subcontractor, to produce and deliver the systems. Ga this article has been rated as gaclass on the projects quality scale.
Switchblade is a music program aimed at disabled computer users who interact with a computer using two switches. The united states marine corps, which recently unveiled its. On september 24th at modern day marine, aerovironment, inc. Switchblade can be equipped with a three pound warhead to attack soft targets. Funded through urgent need statements, the contracts include the first switchblade order from the us marine corps usmc. Aerovironment has shown an undisclosed potential us military customer a swarming concept, though nawabi declines to elaborate. Changes or modifications to this product not completed by an authorized service provider could void the product warranty. The batterypowered, tandem wing, precision guided munition has a limitedduration 15 minute loiter capability and is flown with aerovironments common control station. Oct 09, 2014 virginia beach, va, usa, october 9, 2014. The switchblade is small enough to be carried in a backpack and can be launched from a variety of ground, maritime, and air platforms.
The tightly integrated walkonwalkoff system uses existing rq20b puma block 2 all environment small uas with the new mantis i45 sensor gimbal. Block 10c switchblade loitering missile system for the us arm duration. Switchblade is a highly effective and mature smart weapon system that delivers unmatched force protection and precision strike capabilities to american forces with minimal to no. Aerovironment unmanned aircraft systems business segment vicepresident and general manager kirk flittie said. On the laptop, the simultaneous puma and switchblade video improves operator situational awareness and reduces the chances of mistargeting. Dual front and side look eo cameras and ir nose camera. Switchblade on aerovironment stand at sea air space 2017. Loitering munition is within the scope of wikiproject robotics, which aims to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to robotics on wikipedia. Aerovironment, based in monrovia, california, produces the handlaunched raven, puma and wasp unmanned aircraft for the u. Block 10c switchblade loitering missile system for the us arm. In its short life as a publicly traded company not even 10 years young, aerovironment nasdaq. Aerovironment s puma ae small uas combined with automatic coordinate transmission to the battleproven switchblade lethal loitering missile.
The army earlier this year deployed a new sixtube firing system for its switchblade remotely controlled small missile, a company executive said on the sidelines of the special operations forces industry conference. Us army has deployed some 4,000 switchblades in afghanistan. Aerovironment has successfully conducted a maritime demonstration of its puma switchblade automated sensortoshooter s2s capability. The switchblades utility as a kamikaze drone has been known for years. Aerovironment has successfully conducted a maritime demonstration of its pumaswitchblade automated sensorto. Army to provide hardware and parts for switchblade miniature aerial missile systems. Sensortoshooter combines aerovironments fielded puma block 2 the sensor and switchblade loitering munition the shooter with additional equipment a ruggedized laptop with s2s software, a pocket ddl data link module and a larger gain antenna to forward the puma payloads center field of view cfov electronically to. Currently fielded switchblade systems can be upgraded with the s2s capability. Oct 03, 2016 aerovironment producing switchblade missiles for army the u. It also functions as a kamikaze missile, however, which can be armed and locked on target by operator control. Army orders switchblade missiles from aerovironment. We could place a sample for each category, but im not sure that a particular selection would make sense. Aerovironment begins us armys switchblade block 10c.
Switchblade tactical missile system aerovironment, inc. Aerovironment will upgrade the switchblade the motley fool. We do not endorse or guarantee, and we disclaim any responsibility for. View and download aerovironment evsers user manual online. Aerovironment productservice simi valley, california.
The new switchblade block 10c is the result of close. Apr 28, 2016 the new switchblade block 10c is the result of close collaboration between our u. Army customer and the aerovironment team, said kirk flittie, aerovironment vice president and general. Defeating the threat posed by suass will require commanders to combine new technology.
This miniature flying lethal missile can be operated manually or autonomously. May 09, 2017 aerovironment, based in monrovia, california, produces the handlaunched raven, puma and wasp unmanned aircraft for the u. Interoperable with common ground control station for puma ae, raven, and wasp ae. Aerovironment producing switchblade missiles for army the u. Like aerovironments other uavsthe rq11 raven, rq20 puma, and waspthe switchblade uses avs ground control station, which means that a squad can launch a switchblade and raven together. Though switchblade is usually carried by an individual soldier and launched from a portable canister, aerovironment is working on launching the loitering munition from an armoured vehicle and from larger uav. Avav, a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems uas for both defence and commercial applications, today announced the successful maritime demonstration of a pumaswitchblade automated sensortoshooter s2s capability from a us navy coastal riverine craft for increased mission autonomy to counter threats. Aerovironments combat proven switchblade continues to provide conventional and special operations forces with a backpackable, rapidly deployable, loitering precision strike munition for use against beyondlineofsight blos targets. This user guide includes the latest information available at the time of printing. Switchblade aerovironments combatproven switchblade is the ideal loitering munition for use against beyondlineofsite targets.
Aerovironment demonstrates pumaswitchblade automated. May 11, 2016 aerovironment s switchblade drone is the missile. Currently, s2s is a prototype with plans for product release in the fall of 2018. Marines launch a kamikaze drone from an osprey aircraft. Department of defense unmanned aircraft fleet numerically in the form of handlaunched raven. Switchblade is a miniature, highprecision strike tactical missile system developed by aerovironment, primarily for the us army and us marine corps. At drone world expo aerovironment unveiled the qunatix, an industrial strength fixed wing drone for the commercial market. The tightly integrated walkonwalkoff system uses existing rq20b puma block 2 all environment small uas with the new mantis i45 sensor gimbal combined with. Essentially a guided missile small enough to fit in a backback and fire at a single.
Aerovironment demonstrates pumaswitchblade automated s2s. Aerovironment s new tubelaunched, manportable uav will work for surveillance, and transmits live color video. Aerovironment unveils quantix, an industrial strength. Aug 23, 2011 this video was uploaded from an android phone. Multipack launcher deployed for switchblade 7162019 by stew magnuson image. Department of defense unmanned aircraft fleet numerically in. The p800 oniks is quite different from tomahawk missile. The air force plans to begin procurement of such weapons as early as 2012. If you would like to participate, you can choose to, or visit the project page, where you can join the project and see a list of open tasks. Avav, a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems for both military and commercial applications, today announced the receipt of contract awards in april 2018 from the united states army for procurement of the companys switchblade lethal miniature aerial missile system lmams and contractor logistics support cls that bring the total value of switchblade.
We are not, by referring or linking to such third party website, incorporating its contents. Aerovironment seeks to grow switchblade missile business. Aerovironments switchblade suas is an example of a singleuse. The company is probably most well known for developing a series of lightweight humanpowered and then solarpowered vehicles. Aerovironment switchblade in september 2011, it was reported that the us army had signed a contract with aerovironment for the supply of the switchblade miniature drone. Aerovironment is particularly coy about divulging switchblades cost. It is designed to engage stationary and moving targets in hostile environments, while reducing collateral damage. Aerovironment has received new orders that will see it supply the switchblade tactical missile systems, ancillary equipment and support to the us army. The switchblade block 10c will enhance soldiers capabilities in the field through encrypted operation and improved armywide frequency deconfliction and management. Two representative systems in this category are a new point and toss minidrone from iat and the switchblade developed by aerovironment, presumably under project anubis. The switchblade lethal aerial munition lam is an expendable uav produced by aerovironment. Stacking links are connected in a ring so each device has dual connections to further improve resiliency. Aerovironment demos pumaswitchblade automated sensorto. Aegis elements augmented reality collect and display arcad is a unique application that incorporates a collectible card game as a way to view the highfidelity 3d model content that is.
Aerovironment completes development and begins production. Backpackable and rapidly deployable from air, sea or ground platforms, switchblade provides operators with increased lethality, reach and precision strike capabilities with low collateral effects. Aerovironments switchblade is an advanced direct fire missile systems with high precision capabilities, minimizing collateral damage in hostile environments. Navy coastal riverine craft for increased mission autonomy to counter threats. April 23 upi aerovironment has been awarded a contract by the u. Aerovironment calls its teenytiny killer drone the switchblade.
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