Overview
- AeroVironment won a U.S. Army prototype agreement for its Switchblade 400 under the Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance program.
- AeroVironment says the medium‑range loitering munition weighs under 40 pounds and uses aided target recognition and onboard autonomy to find and strike targets in contested areas.
- Army budget documents plan $109.5 million in fiscal 2027 to buy 53 fire control units and 430 all‑up rounds to support this requirement.
- The Army has been buying Switchblade systems under a 2024 contract worth up to about $990 million, including a $186 million order in February for the 300 and 600 variants.
- Aimed at dismounted infantry, LASSO seeks to give small units a portable way to defeat tanks and other armored targets with precision while limiting collateral damage.