AeroVironment Wins $76 Million Contract to Supply Kamikaze Drones to US Army

AeroVironment has won a $76 million contract to supply Switchblade loitering munitions to the US Army and the US Marine Corps. The contract, signed this week, expands the weapon's deployment among American ground units.

A Kamikaze Drone the Size of a Launch Tube?

The Switchblade is a small loitering munition carried and operated by a single soldier in the field. It is launched from a portable tube, after which it hovers over the target area and streams live video to the operator until the decision is made to dive toward a marked target and detonate its built-in warhead. The unofficial nickname attached to it, the 'kamikaze drone,' stems directly from this mode of operation: there's no return to base, since the device itself is the munition.

Unlike conventional missiles, the Switchblade is designed for precise short-range strikes while minimizing collateral damage, making it especially relevant for urban combat scenarios or close-quarters engagements where accuracy matters more than raw impact.

Does It Give Infantry Units an Independent Strike Capability?

The system's main advantage, reflected in the new contract, is that it gives small ground units an independent precision strike capability. A soldier in the field doesn't need to wait for artillery support or an airstrike to hit a pinpoint target. The entire weapon is carried by hand.

• Contract value: $76 million
• Ordering parties: US Army and US Marine Corps
• Signed: May 2020
• Weapon type: tube-launched loitering munition
• Manufacturer: AeroVironment

A Niche Segment in the Military Procurement World?

The loitering munitions category is still considered a relatively niche segment within the broader military procurement world. It's generally viewed as a support tool for small tactical units rather than a core component of modern combat doctrine. AeroVironment's contract may signal an attempt by the US Army to expand the weapon's use beyond its current role, but it remains unclear whether this marks the start of a broader procurement trend or simply a one-off order to replenish existing stocks.

The practical question that remains open concerns the actual scale of deployment: is this a procurement effort aimed solely at elite units, or is it the first sign of wider adoption across the military as a whole? The answer will likely only come with additional follow-on contracts.