Switchblade 300 and 600 Specs, Range, Warhead and Operators

The AeroVironment Switchblade 300 weighs about 2.5 kg and reaches roughly 10 km, while the larger Switchblade 600 carries an anti-armor warhead to about 40 km, making them the best-known tube-launched loitering munitions in the West. Both are built by US firm AeroVironment and sold to the US military and allies.

~2.5 kg

Switchblade 300 weight, approximate

~40 km

Switchblade 600 range, manufacturer figure

~40 min

Switchblade 600 endurance, manufacturer figure

700

Switchblades reportedly sent to Ukraine in 2022

What is the Switchblade drone

The Switchblade is a family of small loitering munitions, sometimes called kamikaze drones, that are launched from a tube, fly to a target area, and dive onto a target with an explosive warhead. The operator watches live video and can abort the attack and re-target, which differs from a one-way cruise missile. The design is explained in our guide to loitering munitions.

AeroVironment developed the original Switchblade 300 in the late 2000s for special operations forces. It entered US service around 2011 and was followed by the heavier Switchblade 600, which was designed to attack armored vehicles. The firm is described in our AeroVironment company profile.

Switchblade 300 vs 600 specifications

Switchblade 300 vs 600

Parameter	Switchblade 300	Switchblade 600
Launch weight	About 2.5 kg	About 23 kg including tube
Range	About 10 km (later blocks longer)	About 40 km
Endurance	About 15 to 20 min	About 40 min
Warhead	Small fragmentation warhead	Anti-armor warhead, Javelin-class
Dash speed	Around 100 km/h	Around 115 mph, manufacturer figure
Launch	Tube, man-portable	Tube, vehicle or ground launch
Guidance	Operator-guided with electro-optical and infrared camera	Operator-guided with electro-optical and infrared camera
Target types	People, soft vehicles	Armored vehicles, bunkers

Figures are manufacturer descriptions and approximate; different blocks and configurations vary.

How does the Switchblade work

A soldier loads the drone in a launch tube, which takes only a few minutes to set up. A compressed-gas launcher ejects the drone, its wings flip out, and an electric motor drives a propeller. The operator controls it through a tablet, sees video from an electro-optical camera with an infrared option and selects the target. In the final dive, the warhead detonates on impact. The larger 600 can also loiter for longer periods and strike armored vehicles, while the 300 is aimed at people and soft targets.

A key selling point is the wave-off function. If the operator sees a civilian or a change in the situation, the drone can be guided away and flown again, which limits collateral damage and reduces waste compared to fire-and-forget weapons.

Compared with other designs, the Switchblade sits in the middle on price and capability. Larger loitering munitions carry bigger warheads but need vehicles to launch, while cheap first-person-view drones cost far less but have shorter range and less reliable guidance. The Switchblade 300 suits small units that need a precision option they can carry in a backpack, and the 600 gives company-level commanders a way to reach armor without calling for aircraft or artillery. Newer blocks are described by the maker as adding better datalinks and resistance to jamming.

Who uses the Switchblade

The US Army and Marine Corps are the main operators, along with special operations forces. Several allied countries have also acquired the system, including Australia, Taiwan and some European states. Taiwan was approved for a large purchase of both variants in 2024, according to US notifications. The US Army has been running competitions to select a longer-term loitering munition, and the Switchblade 600 is often named as a leading candidate. Readers can see how the type ranks in our top 10 loitering munitions.

Selected Switchblade users

Operator	Variant	Notes
United States	300 and 600	Army, Marine Corps, special operations
Ukraine	300 and 600	Donated from US stocks, reported
Taiwan	300 and 600	Approved for sale in 2024, reported
Australia	300	Acquired for army trials and use, reported

Operator lists come from public announcements; quantities and delivery status are not always confirmed.

Switchblade in Ukraine

The United States sent hundreds of Switchblade 300s to Ukraine in 2022, with reports of 700 in total, and later provided the 600. Ukrainian operators praised the ability to hit targets beyond a trench line, but reported problems with jamming and with the small warhead of the 300 against armor. Operator-reported accounts say electronic warfare reduced effectiveness in some sectors, which led AeroVironment to develop hardened versions. Cheap first-person-view drones have also taken much of the role, since they cost far less.

Editor’s read

The Switchblade proved the loitering-munition concept for Western armies, but Ukraine also showed the limits of an expensive, tube-launched drone. Expect the next generation to be cheaper, more jam-resistant and more autonomous.