The US Army has selected the Switchblade 400 loitering munition from AeroVironment (AV) under the Low-Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program, aimed at equipping mobile brigade combat teams with a lightweight precision strike capability. The system is designed as a medium-range, man-portable “Lightweight Tank Destroyer,” capable of engaging armored vehicles and fortified targets with minimal collateral damage. The prototype agreement covers rapid development, delivery, and testing, reflecting the Army’s emphasis on accelerating field-ready autonomous strike systems. The Switchblade 400 features autonomous target recognition, modular open-system architecture, and integration into AV’s Halo command-and-control ecosystem, enabling seamless upgrades and interoperability. With a 39-pound all-up round, speeds of up to 70 mph, endurance of approximately 35 minutes, and strike ranges reaching 65 kilometers, the munition enhances battlefield flexibility for operations in contested environments. The selection follows previous Army orders for Switchblade 300 and 600 variants, positioning AV as a long-term partner in expanding US loitering munition capabilities across future combat operations.
