US sending latest Switchblade tank-killer drones to Ukraine
- The new 600-series model can fly more than 39km and loiter 40 minutes before attacking with an anti-armour warhead
- Ten of these weapons will be included in the US$300 million in lethal military aid to Ukraine as Russia’s invasion continues
The Pentagon plans to order and send to Ukraine 10 of the newest model Switchblade drones armed with tank-busting warheads in addition to previously announced deliveries of a less powerful version, according to two people familiar with the decision.
The new Switchblade-600 weapons are part of US$300 million in lethal military aid announced by the Pentagon on Friday night that will be contracted directly from industry instead of drawn from existing stocks, according to the people, who asked not to identified discussing the plan.
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday confirmed the tank-killing drones, or “unmanned aerial vehicles” (UAVs) are part of the weaponry being sent to Ukraine.
The inventory of the latest round of weapons being sent to Kyiv includes “UAVs like the Switchblade UAV that is a higher level of technology but provides them additional capability to go after armour formations”, Austin said.
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Ukrainian forces train with newly delivered anti-tank weapons
The White House said on March 16 that it was supplying 100 Switchblade drones as part of a US$800 million package of weapons and gear taken from US inventories.