Switchblade, the deadly suicide drone that the US will give to the Ukrainians

by time news

Despite warnings from Russia, the US government decided to deliver new and sophisticated weapons to Ukraine worth 800 million dollars.

Among them is the powerful suicide drone Switchblade 300which could prove to be a decisive weapon in the war against Russian troops and armor.

This novel weapon weighs less than three kilos, can be comfortably carried in a backpack by a soldiersilently flies for ten kilometers thanks to its electric motor, locates the target with its sensors and then swoops down on the enemy and explodes with considerable power.

The new sophisticated Switchblade 300 and 600 drones would be very effective against Russian tanks. (AP)

They have anti-armor warheads, a key tool to fight against the large number of tanks sent by the Kremlin.

Washington would be about to provide Ukraine with about a hundred of these devices, which implies a considerable expense.

The Switchblade 300 are considered the equivalent of 1980s Stinger missileswhich are fired from a shoulder-mounted launcher and are capable of bringing down an aircraft.

At that time, Washington provided a large number of Stinger to the Afghan mujahideen, who skillfully used them to defeat the invading Soviets.

In addition to the Switchblades, the Pentagon would send the Ukrainians a significant number of howitzers, new types of radars, Mi-17 and armored helicopters.

A sophisticated drone

But the drones are the star of this new weapons shipment, since it would allow the kyiv forces to balance the Russian superiority in what is announced as the decisive battle of the conflict, in the east of Ukraine.

Ukrainian troops have already received from Great Britain a significant amount of Nlaw and Javelin anti-tank missileswhich seem to have played a fundamental role in containing the advance of the Russians.

Ukrainian soldiers are offering an unexpected resistance to Russia.  (Reuters)

Ukrainian soldiers are offering an unexpected resistance to Russia. (Reuters)

America’s new suicide drone would reinforce the style of “guerrilla warfare” carried out by the Ukrainians and could tip the balance even more in favor of the invaded country.

Manufactured by the American company AeroVironment since 2011, the Switchblade 300 measures 60 centimeters and weighs 2.7 kilogramsincluding the launch tube.

Named for the way they spread their wings at launch, Switchblade drones are also known as like marauding ammunitionas they can fly into target areas and stay there until a target is identified.

The operator can then direct it towards the target to make it explode.

The US forces officially define it as a missile, rather than a drone, but many of its characteristics make it closer to this second type of weapon. It has a color camera and a GPS system to identify the enemy.

Its load is of a power equivalent to a 40mm grenadeenough to kill soldiers and damage light vehicles.

The new version 600

According to the US press, Washington also plans to deliver to Ukraine copies of the Switchblade 600, a larger version produced from 2020 and used to neutralize armoras it is endowed with a more powerful charge.

With a weight of 23 kilos the Switchblade 600 It can reach a distance of 40 kilometers and fly over an area until it locates its target.before pounced on him at 185 kilometers per hour.

The spokesman for the US Department of Defense, John Kirby, revealed that experts from his country they were already training ukrainian soldiers in the use of these drones.

“A small number of Ukrainians were already here in the US (before the invasion), and we took the opportunity to train them for a few days, especially on Switchblade drones, which the Ukrainian Army is not familiar with, so they can come back and train. to his colleagues in the Ukrainian army,” he said.

The Switchblade drones would be arriving in Ukraine in the coming days, according to a US source.

With information from agencies.

DV

You may also like

Leave a Comment