President Biden is taking steps on his efforts to assist Ukraine fight
back against Russia’s invasion, announcing an extensive new package that he mentioned would
“give unprecedented assistance” to the country. According to the U.S official,
the increase in military assistance includes the delivery of 100 Switchblade drones,
small and precise weapons packed with explosives that can strike targets in a "kamikaze" mode.
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we will discuss everything related to Switchblade Kamikaze Drones, is it Russia’s Worst Nightmare?
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Before we move further, we need to answer the question,
what are actually the Switchblade drones?
The Switchblade refers to a loitering munition developed by AeroVironment. It is designed as a
"kamikaze," that this drone is able to crash into its target with an explosive warhead to
destroy it. They are single-use weapons with unmanned aircraft that are capable of inflicting
significant damage. The drones have blade-like wings that emerge when the device is launched.
The Switchblade is small enough to be carried in a backpack and
can be launched from a variety of ground, maritime, and air platforms.
Here are several reasons why the Switchblade are frequently called "kamikaze drones"
● First, this drones are small and easily deployed, and are intended to hit targets
that are outside the line of sight. They are launched out of a tube much like a mortar.
● Second, once launched, the Switchblade drones are able to be controlled from the
ground before striking its programmed target. ● Third, they have a feature that allows a service
member to call off the strike if the target has moved away or civilians are in the area.
The Switchblade is produced by Californian company AeroVironment, which makes the U.S. military’s
tactical reconnaissance drones. Switchblade’s origins date back to 2004 and a DARPA program
called Close Combat Lethal Reconnaissance (CCLR) or Confirmatory Hunter Killer.
The original version is similar to the final design, with one major difference.
It was controlled by a fiber-optic cable spooling out behind as it flew.
This arrangement is feasible and is used by Israel’s Spike-NLOS missile.
Moreover, the Switchblade was not made public until 2011,
when the U.S. Army took an interest and ordered a new ‘Block 10’ version.
The weapon was deployed in Afghanistan against ‘high-value targets. In fact,
the scale of Switchblade deployment was only accidentally exposed in 2015 when the project
crews were recognized for “successful delivery of more than 4,000 Switchblade All Up Rounds,
50 Fire Control Units and 50 Training Simulators to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
Since then, the Switchblade appears to be a favourite weapon of U.S. Special Forces
and other infantry units. This drone is valued for its ability to carry out precision strikes
at long range. It can hit with sniper-like precision from a distance of six miles.
However, unlike a Javelin or other missiles, it does not reveal the firer’s location.
In 2015, the remains of some Switchblades were discovered in Syria,
with the assumption that they were used by US troops helping Kurdish fighters.
Switchblade drones are cheaper than most U.S. drones, and come in two different models,
according to the manufacturer. The Switchblade 300 model weighs about five pounds, flies up to 15
minutes at a time, and is designed to be carried in a backpack, assisting small infantry units
tracking the Russians’ movements and is designed for strikes on soldiers. It has a cruising speed
of 63 mph and top speed of 100 mph. On the other hand, the Switchblade 600, by comparison,
weighs about 50 pounds, flies up to 40 minutes with a range of about 25 miles. This model is
known as a “loitering missile” that can target armoured vehicles. Additionally, it has a cruising
speed of 70 mph and top speed of 115 mph, and it was designed for strikes on soldiers and tanks.
However, it is currently unknown which version the US will deliver to Ukraine in this scenario.
According to the company's website, Switchblade drones were initially
employed in Afghanistan against the Taliban in the aftermath of 9/11.
The company claimed earlier this month that it was ready to help Ukraine "fight
against the Russian military and strategically deter potential aggression" in a statement.
Moving on further, we will highlight some advancements of this weapon.
It is mentioned that the Switchblade’s ability is difficult to defend against.
Operators program the Switchblade to destroy a target up to 50 miles away.
When the weapon is launched it can avoid enemy fire with its cameras and guidance system.
Switchblades then can fly around the target for 40 minutes until the fire control mechanism
determines it is advantageous to strike. Once the target is engaged the heavier
Switchblade 600 drone flies down to paydirt at 115 miles per hour to pierce a tank’s armour.
Moreover, this weapon is affordable and simple to fire. The Switchblades are
tube-launched weapons that can be carried in a rucksack. The remote-controlled smart bombs are
simple to operate and cost effective with a price of around $6,000 each.
They could have been the weapons used by Americans to assassinate Iranian General Qasem Soleimani,
the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds force commander in 2020.
If the Switchblade transfer is made, the Ukrainians are likely to have a powerful weapon to
complement anti-tank missiles such as Javelins and NLAW anti-tank missiles, as well as the Punisher
and Bayraktar TB2 drones. The Switchblade has proven to be a highly effective combat weapon
and has remained one of the military's best-kept secrets. The Switchblade may be even more advanced
than the Javelin and this has some in the U.S. military establishment. The fact that the US
will only give 100 Switchblades at this time seems to be intriguing. This might be a trial
batch to assess how effective the weapons are in Ukrainian control. There may be also issues
related to maintaining the secret of a weapon that is still undisclosed. Switchblade may be
deployed in Ukraine, but that does not imply it will be the star of the show at the moment.
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