The Switchblade suicide drone has three versions: the Switchblade 300, the Switchblade 600, and Blackwing.
1. Switchblade drone 300
Switchblade drone 300 dimension is 2 ft (610 mm) long and weighs 6 lb (2.7 kg) including the carrying case and launcher, as a light single-use drone, it will be easy when the soldier carries it because it fits in the backpack. The whole kit of Switchblade drone 300 (Launcher, payload, and transport bag only has a weight of 2.5 kg. With its small size, it can use for a variety of missions on the sea, air, and ground platforms.
The Switchblade drone is developed by AeroVironment in 2011 with a cost $6000 per unit. According to AeroVironment, Switchblade 300 can reach the target with a maximum speed of 100 km/h. It is also equipped with cameras and guidance systems to reach the targets to give bomb explosion.
Switchblade 300 is used by attack soldiers in combat. It launches from a tube and then flies in the air into the target to dive-bomb explosion damage. It has a maximum range of 10 km dan endurance in the air for up to 5 minutes before exploding.
2. Switchblade Drone 600
The Switchblade has the larger version, Switchblade 600 – It has greater ability than Switchblade 300 version. It can fly in the air until 20 minutes, longer range of up to 80 km, top speed of 185 km/h, and weight of 55 kg.
The Switchblade 600 is suitable to use as anti-tank warhead because it has a longer range and lower cost than other anti-tank missiles like FGM-148 Javelin.
The drone is controlled by using a tablet-based touchscreen fire-control system which has GPS coordinates to reach the targets and then strike them.
By Its Insane ability, The Switchblade drone is a nightmare for enemy tanks dan helicopters. It can crush a tank by diving-bomb into targets.
AeroVironment formerly built Switchblade 600 for the Army Single Multi-Mission Attack Missile development program.
According to the drive, the United States sent many suicide drones to Ukraine.
Blackwing Variant
In 2015. the AeroVironment was made as an unarmed variant of the Switchblade 300, which is called Blackwings. This drone has the same weight dimension as switchblade 300. It can use for ISR (Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) to conducts operations on the sea.