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Pentagon’s ‘Switchblade 600’ drone gets funding for China fight
- US-based AeroVironment Inc makes the tank-busting drone now used in the Ukraine war
- Pentagon is funding Replicator programme aimed at helping counter Chinese capabilities
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A tank-destroying drone known for helping Ukraine push back on Russian advances is getting a major infusion of support – as part of an accelerated Pentagon effort to prepare for a possible conflict with China.
The 50-pound (23kg) Switchblade 600 is the first of a new wave of lower-cost autonomous weapons the Pentagon is publicly acknowledging it is funding through its Replicator programme – an effort to field new systems by August 2025 to help counter Chinese capabilities.
Produced by AeroVironment Inc, an Arlington, Virginia-based company, the drones can fly more than 24 miles (39km) and idle for 40 minutes before attacking its target with an anti-armour warhead. The Pentagon announced the Switchblade’s selection in the programme on Monday.
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Other companies are expected to win support for their systems as well but it is not clear how many of them will be publicly disclosed.
Contractors whose weapons are selected will see millions of dollars in increased sales as the department plans to scale production to meet its ambitious goals.
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