USA will transfer large batch of Switchblade 600 drones to Ukraine
The Switchblade 600 kamikaze drones can increase Ukraine’s ability to destroy Russian heavy equipment far behind well-fortified front lines.
This was reported by Newsweek, Censor.NET informs.
"The Ukrainian military currently has more of the smaller Switchblade 300 drones than the larger Switchblade 600 models, but "that will change soon," said Charlie Dean, vice president of global business development and marketing at defence contractor AeroVironment.
He also added that the Switchblade 600 is "extremely important for Ukraine's defence".
The Switchblade 600 is designed to engage enemy tanks and armoured vehicles on the battlefield. The updated versions can stay in the air for over 40 minutes and reach speeds of over 112 kilometres per hour.
"As Russian forces are equipped with heavy armour, "the use of weapons like the Switchblade 600 is critical to defeating these enemy weapon systems," Dean said.
The availability of the Switchblade 600 can give Ukrainian operators the ability to effectively hit enemy targets within a radius of about 90 kilometres. This means that "they can strike at important Russian targets far beyond the Russian front line, which is extremely important in the context of current circumstances."
One of the advantages of Switchblade is that, unlike artillery, these drones can approach a target, and once it is hit, the operator can search for and attack other targets.
"All the way to the end of the Switchblades flight, the operator can make decisions. The operator can fly away from the immediate target that they may have originally sought because they have found a higher value target. It's very unique compared to artillery," Dean said.
