A lightweight US-made drone, carrying an explosive charge and able to be stored in a backpack, will soon enter service with the Australian Defense Force (ADF) following its successful use on the battlefield in Europe.
On Monday, the Albanian government announced the acquisition of the “Switchblade 300”, a precision munition with a range of around 10 kilometers used by Ukrainian soldiers in their fight against invading Russian forces.
According to the American manufacturer AeroVironment, the portable device weighs only a few kilograms and uses a strike missile capable of striking enemy targets beyond the line of sight (BLOS).
On its website, the company claims the latest version of its product is a “lethal, lightweight, miniature, precision-guided missile” and can be deployed in less than two minutes by tube launch from land, sea or mobile platforms, providing greater mission flexibility.
The growing importance of deadly drone warfare was highlighted during the war in Ukraine, where both sides demonstrated effective use of unmanned aerial systems, sparking criticism of the ADF's current limited capacity in the region.
Currently, the ADF operates around 760 unmanned aerial systems, mainly for surveillance missions, with some models capable of being armed. But the Defense Department is also testing cheap, expendable systems that can be produced in large numbers.
Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy insists the Government is taking steps to improve the ADF's use of drones, rejecting suggestions it has not invested in the deadly technology.
“As autonomous weapon systems become more prevalent, the Defense Strategic Review has made clear that new technologies and asymmetric advantage are important priorities. »
US defense contractor AeroVironment says the Switchblade 300 weighs just a few kilograms. ( Provided: AeroVironment )
“The Albanian government is actually investing more than $10 billion in drones, including at least $4.3 billion in unmanned aerial systems,” Conroy said in a statement.
Details of how many US drones Australia will buy and at what price remain unknown, although the Switchblade 300 is said to cost between around $90,000 and $120,000.
Earlier this year The ABC has revealed that a locally manufactured, electrically powered loitering munition will also soon be fielded by the Australian Armyalthough defense sources say it's unlikely to be before the Switchblade 300 arrives.
Last week, Washington approved the sale of the Switchblade 300 to Taiwan's military for nearly $90 million, after previously agreeing to supply the weapon to Ukraine, France, the United Kingdom and other allies following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
