American Switchblade 600 combat drones will be delivered to Lithuania next year, the Lithuanian Defence Ministry said on Saturday. Wahid Nawabi, CEO of AeroVironment, confirmed the news to Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas who is currently in the United States.
Lithuania signed a contract for the American drones in December 2022.
“We are the first country in the world, after the US itself, to acquire the new Switchblade combat drones. This will be a significant reinforcement of our armed forces with a re-deployable capability that will allow us to destroy armoured enemy vehicles up to 40 kilometres away,”
Anušauskas was quoted as saying in the ministry’s statement.
On Friday, the Lithuanian defence minister visited the AeroVironment production facility in California where he inspected the equipment under development and discussed possibilities for further cooperation.
Switchblade 600 combat drones are the next-generation long-range combat drones, featuring ultra-precise optics, the ability to stay airborne for up to 40 minutes, and an effective anti-tank warhead capable of destroying heavy armoured vehicles, including tanks.
Together with these combat drones, Lithuania is buying drone launching and control equipment, a simulator for personnel training, and a maintenance package from the US.
Source: LRT