U.S. Special Forces use unmanned reconnaissance drone with missile warhead for reconnaissance and attack
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. – Officials of AeroVironment Inc. in Simi Valley, Calif., have announced their company was awarded a $26 million contract to build combination tactical missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. Asia Times reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
11 May 2021 -- The contract includes delivery and integration of Switchblade 600 explosive UAVs into specialized maritime platforms by January 2023.
The AeroVironment Switchblade 600 UAV has a high-performance electro-optical and infrared gimbaled sensor suite, precision flight control, and more than 40 minutes of flight time for tactical reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA), as well as attack capability.
Its anti-armor missile warhead enables engagement and prosecution of hardened static and moving light armored vehicles from multiple angles – without external ISR or fires assets – for precise, localized effects and minimal collateral damage.
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John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
