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The Switchblade is designed to provide the warfighter with a back-packable, non-line-of-sight precision strike solution with minimal collateral effects. It can rapidly provide a powerful, but expendable miniature flying intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) package on a beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) target within minutes. This miniature, remotely-piloted or autonomous platform can either glide or propel itself via quiet electric propulsion, providing real-time GPS coordinates and video for information gathering, targeting, or feature/object recognition. The vehicle’s small size and quiet motor make it difficult to detect, recognize and track even at very close range. The Switchblade is fully scalable and can be launched from a variety of air and ground platforms.
Switchblade is operated from AeroVironment’s battle proven ground control system (GCS) with a communications range of greater than 10 km. Our common GCS interfaces with AeroVironment air vehicles reducing the level of training required and decreasing the time and cost involved.
PRODUCT SPECS
GCS Common Ground Control Station for Raven, Wasp AE and Puma AE
Range 10 km radius of operation
Endurance 10 min
Speed 55 to 85 kts
Operational Altitude Below 500 feet AGL (ceiling >15,000 feet MSL)
Weight Fits inside ALICE pack, approx. 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) (includes payload, launcher and transport bag)
Launch Method Self contained ground launch
Observables Very small visual, thermal and acoustic signatures
Lethality Precision strike with very low collateral damage
Optional Launch Platforms Air vehicle, ground vehicle, water craft, etc.