Switchblade: U.S. gives ‘kamikaze drones’ to Ukraine

Ukraine will receive 100 “kamikaze” Switchblade drones from the United States.

Congressman Michael McCaul told Politico. This media information was confirmed by the administration of President Joe Biden.

The U.S. will send drones to Ukraine as part of the Biden administration’s new $800 million weapons package.

Switchblade is a product of the American company AeroVironment. According to open data, two variants exist, the Switchblade 300 and the Switchblade 600. It is unclear which Ukraine will receive.

Switchblade is equipped with sensors and video cameras that allow the operator to monitor the destruction of the target in real time.

Ammunition can be launched from land, sea or air platforms.

Switchblade 300

Range – 10 km

Flight duration – 15 minutes

Weight – 2.5 kg

Flight altitude: 150-4500 m

Cruising speed: 100 km / h

Maximum speed: 160 km/h

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT2PZnbNKKA

Switchblade 600

Range – 40 km

Flight duration – 40 minutes

Weight – 54.4 kg

Flight altitude: 150-4500 m

Cruising speed: 110 km / h

Maximum speed: 185 km/h

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBNayBINEBc

It is expected that the greatest effectiveness of the use of kamikaze drones will be achieved by combining the reconnaissance capabilities of the Bayraktar TB2 UCAV and the ability to hit targets with high accuracy at a considerable distance Switchblade. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces demonstrated such effective tactics during the war for the liberation of occupied Nagorno-Karabakh.