As part of the Replicator Program, the U.S. Army announced it will deploy over 1,000 Switchblade 600 drones in the coming year. This announcement was made by General James Mingus, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, who disclosed the number during a hearing of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, held on June 21st at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) headquarters in Mountain View, California.
The Switchblade 600 is a loitering munition developed by AeroVironment, which the U.S. Department of Defense prioritizes purchasing in the first batch of the Replicator program. The strategy, also called the “Replicator” initiative, involves the United States deploying autonomous systems across multiple domains over the next 18 to 24 months.
This strategy is based on two main premises: first, China has a primary advantage in mass production of “more ships, more missiles, more people,” suggesting that the United States should respond with innovation rather than attempting to match that mass. Second, Hicks explained that expendable autonomous systems are the appropriate form of innovation, like the drones used in the Ukraine War, aiming to reduce the number of personnel in the line of fire. She also explained that through this strategy, the United States will enhance its manufacturing and mobilization capabilities “with our real comparative advantage, which is the innovation and spirit of our people.”
In this context, around USD 1 billion are planned to be spent during 2024 and 2025, with funds coming from various sources, including prior year appropriations, a reprogramming request, a national security supplement approved in August, and the department’s FY-25 budget proposal still pending approval.
The Switchblade 600 is a next-generation long-range loitering munition with over 40 minutes of endurance and an anti-armor warhead for engaging larger targets. It has performed well on battlefields in Russia, Syria, and Iraq. The Army had already planned to purchase the system through its Loitering Munitions and Low-Altitude Attack program, although in smaller quantities, before it was selected for Replicator.
The system is equipped with high-resolution EO/IR sensors and advanced precision flight control, providing the combatant with quick and easy deployment via tube launch and the capability to fly, track, and engage targets and armored vehicles beyond line of sight.
Additionally, according to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, the department began deploying Replicator systems to the Indo-Pacific Command in early May.
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