More failure of US made weapons.
US-Made Switchblade Loitering Munitions See First Failure In Ukraine (Photos)
US-made AeroVironment Switchblade loitering munitions, which were recently supplied to Kiev forces, have experienced their first failure in Ukraine. On...
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US-MADE SWITCHBLADE LOITERING MUNITIONS SEE FIRST FAILURE IN UKRAINE (PHOTOS)
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The launch of Switchblade on 6 April 2018 during a Robotic Complex Breach Concept assessment and demonstration at Grafenwoehr, Germany. (Photo by Sgt. Gregory T. Summers, U.S. Army).
US-made AeroVironment Switchblade loitering munitions, which were recently supplied to Kiev forces, have experienced their first failure in Ukraine.
On May 6, Russian sources shared photos showing the wreckage of a Switchblade 300 loitering munition that failed to hit its target and landed in an empty field. It remains unclear if the munition was subjected to air defense fire or electronic warfare means.
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The Switchblade 300 was designed to target personnel and unarmored vehicles. It has a range of 10 kilometers and an endurance of 10 minutes. AeroVironment developed a larger loitering munition, the Switchblade 600, to destroy armored vehicles, like battle tanks. This version has a range of 80 kilometers and an endurance of up to 20 minutes.
Both the Switchblade 300 and 600 are equipped with optical guidance systems. The munitions can be programmed to automatically strike targets, and can loiter around their targets until the time is right to strike.
In March, the US promised to supply Kiev forces with more than 100 Switchblade 300 and 600 systems in response to the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. Later in April, the US announced that it will be supplying Kiev forces with at least 121 of a previously-unknown loitering system dubbed the Phoenix Ghost.
The Phoenix Ghost loitering munition, which was allegedly developed by Aevex Aerospace, has an endurance of up to six hours. The munition is also equipped with a night-capable optical guidance system.
The US was not the only state to supply Kiev forces with loitering munitions. Poland has already supplied Kiev with the WB Electronics Warmate loitering munition, which has a maximum range of 40 kilometers and an endurance of up to 50 minutes.
So far, Kiev has not released any footage showing the loitering munitions it recently received in action. This rises some questions about the effectiveness of these systems.
Loitering munitions like the Switchblade 300\600, the Phoenix Ghost and the Warmate pose a serious threat to Russian forces operating in Ukraine. However, they can be neutralized with air defense and electronic warfare means.