Switchblade 600 drones: A game-changer in Ukraine conflict
Ukrainians are methodically working to eliminate Russian air defence and anti-drone systems. To this end, Western innovations such as the Switchblade 600 drones are being utilized. Here are their capabilities.
The video below shows the first recording of an attack by the rare American Switchblade 600 drone on a Russian air defence system resembling the 9K331 Tor-M1 or 9K332 Tor-M2. This is a very dangerous Russian system capable of hunting drones. However, despite its low quality, the video suggests the Ukrainians caught the Tor on the move because the detection radar appears to be folded.
Switchblade 600 - effectively a long-range FGM-148 Javelin
Ukraine received these drones in greater numbers in 2024, but unfortunately, photos or videos of their use are rare. The Switchblade 600 is designed for attacking armoured vehicles or infantry groups, as it has significantly greater firepower than the smaller Switchblade 300.
The Switchblade 600 drone is equipped with a dual-function warhead similar to that of the renowned FGM-148 Javelin. This enables it to destroy even the best Russian tanks, such as the T-90M, T-72B3M, or T-80BWM. In the other mode, it covers a significant area with shrapnel.
Structurally, the drones weigh 15 kilograms and are launched from a launcher resembling a 19-centimetre mortar, which increases the total weight to 29 kilograms. The drone boasts a range exceeding even 90 kilometres, but this requires a signal amplifier, as a real attack is possible over a distance of more than 40 kilometres.
The drone is equipped with a dual-axis stabilized head with a daytime and thermal camera and an encrypted connection to the base station. This is an extremely important feature that is unavailable to commercial drones. The manufacturer, AeroVironment, also claims a flight time of over 40 minutes and a flight speed of 113 kilometres per hour, which increases to 185 kilometres per hour during an attack.
Switchblade 600 drones are the second solution after Polish Warmate drones that can operate in an environment where swarms of simple commercial FPV drones fail. It is also worth noting that the algorithms in Switchblade drones automatically track and attack selected targets, and if they miss, they can turn around and strike again.
