The U.S. defense contractor AeroVironment has signed an agreement with a Ukrainian firm to begin local production of its Switchblade 600 loitering munitions, according to a report by Ukraine’s defense-focused website, Militarnyy. 

The Switchblade 600, a long-range, anti-armor variant of AeroVironment’s loitering munitions, will be produced in Ukraine under a phased plan. Initially, subsystem components will be sent from the U.S. for assembly, with a gradual localization of production as the program develops. AeroVironment’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of Loitering Munitions Systems, Brett Hush, explained that over time, more components will be manufactured in Ukraine, improving the system’s integration and capabilities.

The agreement, however, is still pending approval from the U.S. government, a process that could take up to nine months. Specific production volumes have not been disclosed, but AeroVironment estimates several thousand Switchblade 600s will be produced annually once full-scale production begins.

The Switchblade 600 is a tube-launched, portable loitering munition designed to engage armored targets. It has a range of 40 kilometers (24.9 miles) and carries a warhead similar to that of the Javelin anti-tank missile. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced during the same forum that the country is now capable of producing up to 4 million drones annually, with over 1.5 million production contracts already signed. Ukraine has also made significant strides in domestic artillery ammunition production, increasing output 25-fold during the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year.

The enhanced production capabilities extend beyond drones. Ukraine has introduced the long-range “Palyanytsia” missile drone and other advanced systems that are already in use by its defense forces. Additionally, the development of marine drones, a new ballistic missile, and the Neptune missile system further strengthens Ukraine’s strategic defense capabilities as the conflict with Russia continues.

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Kyiv Post

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