Medium-range, man-portable anti-armor loitering munition with aided target recognition, under 40 lb all-up round; selected for Army LASSO prototyping in 2026.

Development

Switchblade 600

Man-portable, tube-launched anti-armor loitering munition; first system selected for Replicator; used by Ukraine.

Fielded

Photo: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Cody Nelson · Public domain (PD-USGov-Military-Army)

Show all 5 products

Newest unveiled first. Open a product for its milestone timeline, components and sources.

Technologies2

Technologies
Technology	Role	Maturity	TRL	Notes	Confidence
Kinetic counter-UAS interceptors	Developer	Prototype	—	—	Reported
Loitering munitions	Developer	Fielded	—	—	Confirmed

Kinetic counter-UAS interceptors
Developer
PrototypeReported
Loitering munitions
Developer
FieldedConfirmed

Maturity and TRL describe this organization's work; the field-wide maturity is on each technology's page.

Government awards & programs13 awards · $267M obligated · up to $1.44B ceiling · 3 programs

Awards received13

Awards received
Announced	Award	Agency	Type	Program	Obligated	Ceiling	Confidence
Sep 3, 2026	E-HEL laser productionpress:aerovironment:2026-09-03:archive-24	U.S. Army	Contract	—	—	Up to $465M	Reported
Jul 6, 2026	Domestic Shield counter-drone technologypress:aerovironment:2026-07-06:archive-246	U.S. Army	Task order	—	—	Up to $80.5M	Reported
Jul 1, 2026	Commercial counter-UAS capabilities ordering contractW912CH26DA073	U.S. Army	Contract	—	—	Up to $500M	Confirmed
May 28, 2026	Air Force ceramics materials contractpress:aerovironment:2026-05-28	Air Force Research Laboratory	Contract	—	—	Up to $20.0M	Reported
May 4, 2026	LASSO hardware prototype agreement for Switchblade 400W91CRB269A009	U.S. Army	OTA	Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO)	$31.8M	$34.7M	Confirmed
Feb 16, 2026	Estonia – Ammunition – Varitseva õhuründemoona raamleping — Varitseva õhuründemoona raamlepingted:fd150ca3-7b12-4b2c-bdff-28e49cff461a:LOT-0000:caae7ee683b142fa	Riigi Kaitseinvesteeringute Keskus	Contract	—	Undisclosed	—	Confirmed
Oct 22, 2025	Freedom Eagle-1 interceptors (LRKI / NGCM)press:aerovironment:2025-10-22	U.S. Army	Contract	Next-Generation C-UAS Missile	—	Up to $95.9M	Reported
—	THIS EFFORT IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING OPERATIONAL UTILITY OF THESE SYSTEMS FOR USE BY DEPARTMENT OF WAR (DOW) PERSONNEL FOR FORCE PROTECTION, BASE DEFENSE, AND COUNTER-UAS OPERATIONS.W912CH26FA117	U.S. Army	Contract	—	$80.6M	$89.8M	Confirmed
—	AWARD IN SUPPORT OF TUAS BATTALION RECONNAISSANCE UAV REQUIREMENT.W58RGZ26F0334	U.S. Army	Contract	—	$117M	$117M	Confirmed
—	PUMAS, RAVENS AND SPARES IN SUPPORT OF MACEDONIAW58RGZ26F0028	U.S. Army	Contract	—	$5.0M	$5.0M	Confirmed
—	FMS REQUIREMENT IN SUPPORT OF TUNISIA.W58RGZ26F0139	U.S. Army	Contract	—	$10.6M	$10.6M	Confirmed
—	ACC/A3J-MIPR-TACP ACC HURRICANE ORDERFA862926PB003	U.S. Air Force	Contract	—	$4.5M	$4.5M	Confirmed
—	IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIRECTIVES ESTABLISHED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR MEMORANDUM DATED 10 JULY 2025, IN SUPPORT OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 14307-UNLEASHING U.S. MILITARY DRONE DOMINANCE.W58RGZ26F0206	U.S. Army	Contract	—	$17.6M	$17.6M	Confirmed

E-HEL laser production
Sep 3, 2026 · Contract
From U.S. Army
Up to $465M
Ceiling
Domestic Shield counter-drone technology
Jul 6, 2026 · Task order
From U.S. Army
Up to $80.5M
Ceiling
Commercial counter-UAS capabilities ordering contract
Jul 1, 2026 · Contract
From U.S. Army
Confirmed
Up to $500M
Ceiling
Air Force ceramics materials contract
May 28, 2026 · Contract
From Air Force Research Laboratory
Up to $20.0M
Ceiling
LASSO hardware prototype agreement for Switchblade 400
May 4, 2026 · OTA
From U.S. Army
Program Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO)
Confirmed
$31.8M
Obligated · up to $34.7M ceiling
Estonia – Ammunition – Varitseva õhuründemoona raamleping — Varitseva õhuründemoona raamleping
Feb 16, 2026 · Contract
From Riigi Kaitseinvesteeringute Keskus
Confirmed
Undisclosed
Freedom Eagle-1 interceptors (LRKI / NGCM)
Oct 22, 2025 · Contract
From U.S. Army
Program Next-Generation C-UAS Missile
Up to $95.9M
Ceiling
THIS EFFORT IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING OPERATIONAL UTILITY OF THESE SYSTEMS FOR USE BY DEPARTMENT OF WAR (DOW) PERSONNEL FOR FORCE PROTECTION, BASE DEFENSE, AND COUNTER-UAS OPERATIONS.
Undated · Contract
From U.S. Army
Confirmed
$80.6M
Obligated · up to $89.8M ceiling
AWARD IN SUPPORT OF TUAS BATTALION RECONNAISSANCE UAV REQUIREMENT.
Undated · Contract
From U.S. Army
Confirmed
$117M
Obligated · up to $117M ceiling
PUMAS, RAVENS AND SPARES IN SUPPORT OF MACEDONIA
Undated · Contract
From U.S. Army
Confirmed
$5.0M
Obligated · up to $5.0M ceiling
FMS REQUIREMENT IN SUPPORT OF TUNISIA.
Undated · Contract
From U.S. Army
Confirmed
$10.6M
Obligated · up to $10.6M ceiling
ACC/A3J-MIPR-TACP ACC HURRICANE ORDER
Undated · Contract
From U.S. Air Force
Confirmed
$4.5M
Obligated · up to $4.5M ceiling
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIRECTIVES ESTABLISHED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR MEMORANDUM DATED 10 JULY 2025, IN SUPPORT OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 14307-UNLEASHING U.S. MILITARY DRONE DOMINANCE.
Undated · Contract
From U.S. Army
Confirmed
$17.6M
Obligated · up to $17.6M ceiling

Programs3

Programs
Program	Role	Program status	Confidence
Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO)	Prime	Development	Confirmed
Next-Generation C-UAS Missile	Prime	Production	Confirmed
Replicator	Prime	Production	Confirmed

Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO)
Prime · Development
Confirmed
Next-Generation C-UAS Missile
Prime · Production
Confirmed
Replicator
Prime · Production
Confirmed

Obligated is what has been committed so far; ceiling is the most the award can reach. Joint values cover all recipients and are excluded from this company’s money totals.

News10

Open in the news feed →

Oct 5, 2026NewsAV, Boeing, Epirus And Kord Selected For Directed Energy C-UAS PilotDefense Daily Sep 14, 2026NewsAeroVironment unit BlueHalo wins $99.8M Air Force space contractSeeking Alpha Sep 3, 2026NewsUS Army launches laser production with $465M contract award Sep 2, 2026NewsArmy awards first-ever laser production contract to AV, with $465M value - Breaking Defense Jul 29, 2026NewsAV and Applied Intuition team up to bring collaborative autonomy to new Mayhem 10 drone Jul 6, 2026NewsPentagon awards $80M task order for AI-enabled tech to defend Air Force bases against small drones Jul 2, 2026NewsPentagon awards $500M contract for counter-drone tech to AeroVironment May 4, 2026CompanyU.S. Army Selects AV’s Switchblade 400 for LASSO ProgramAeroVironment Oct 22, 2025NewsAeroVironment's Freedom Eagle-1 Picked As New Counter-Drone Interceptor For U.S. ArmyThe War Zone May 7, 2024CompanyAV’s Switchblade 600 Selected for Tranche 1 of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Replicator InitiativeAeroVironment

Sources19

Profile1

1
OtherAeroVironment — founded year
Supports Organization · founded year, Organization · hq city
“Founded 1971”

Products6

2
CompanyU.S. Army Selects AV’s Switchblade 400 for LASSO Program
AeroVironment · May 4, 2026 · Supports Government award, Organization, System
“awarded a prototype agreement from the U.S. Army for the Low-Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program to support the rapid development, delivery and testing of the Switchblade® 400 loitering munition”
3
NewsAeroVironment launches new Mayhem drone product line
DefenseScoop · Apr 15, 2026 · Supports System
“AeroVironment on Wednesday unveiled Mayhem 10, the first in a new product line of unmanned aerial systems that the company plans to market to the Army and other potential customers.”
4
NewsAV unveils LOCUST X3, latest entrant into laser counter-drone race
Breaking Defense · Mar 24, 2026 · Supports System
“revealed the LOCUST X3 counter-small unmanned aerial systems (C-sUAS) platform today, designed to take out small- to medium-sized drones with a laser.”
5
NewsAeroVironment's Freedom Eagle-1 Picked As New Counter-Drone Interceptor For U.S. Army
The War Zone · Oct 22, 2025 · Supports Government award · ceiling usd, Organization, Organization technology, System, System · system input:solid-rocket-motors
“The company has also now received a contract from the service valued at $95.9 million for FE-1s, which has come through a related effort called the Long-Range Kinetic Interceptor (LRKI).”
6
CompanyAV’s Switchblade 600 Selected for Tranche 1 of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Replicator Initiative
AeroVironment · May 7, 2024 · Supports Organization technology, System
““Switchblade 600 is a battle-proven system in full-rate production”
7
NewsPentagon's Replicator selects AeroVironment's Switchblade-600 as first buy
Reuters · May 6, 2024 · Supports System
“The Switchblade-600 has gained notoriety because the Ukrainian military is using it to strike Russian troops.”

Government12

8
NewsUS Army launches laser production with $465M contract award
Sep 3, 2026 · Supports Government award
“The U.S. Army awarded a $464.8 million production contract to AeroVironment, Inc., this week for the Enduring-High Energy Laser program (E-HEL), marking the first production cont”
9
NewsPentagon awards $80M task order for AI-enabled tech to defend Air Force bases against small drones
Jul 6, 2026 · Supports Government award
“The $80.5 million deal is the first task order being executed under a [$500 million Army-awarded contract](https://defensescoop.com/2026/”
10
Government recordContracts for July 1, 2026
Jul 1, 2026 · Supports Government award
“AeroVironment Inc., Simi Valley, California, was awarded a $500,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of commercial counter-unmanned aerial systems and counter small-unmanned aerial systems capabilities.”
11
NewsAeroVironment wins $20M Air Force ceramics contract
Investing.com · May 28, 2026 · Supports Government award · ceiling usd
“AeroVironment wins $20M Air Force ceramics contract”
12
Government recordFPDS: Other Transaction Agreement W91CRB269A009 (AeroVironment, Inc)
FPDS-NG · Apr 29, 2026 · Supports Government award · obligated amount
“New OTHER TRANSACTION AGREEMENT W91CRB269A009 awarded to AEROVIRONMENT, INC for the amount of $28,621,578.89; Description: LOW ALTITUDE STALKING AND STRIKE ORDNANCE (LASSO) HARDWARE PROTOTYPE AGREEMENT - SWITCHBLADE 400; Total obligated: 31778217.06; Total base and all options: 34747977.44”
13
Government recordEstonia – Ammunition – Varitseva õhuründemoona raamleping
Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) · Feb 16, 2026 · Supports Government award · announced on, Government award · awarding agency, Government award · description, Government award · external id, Government award · recipient, Organization · country, Organization · name
“{"publication-number":"109039-2026","publication-date":"2026-02-16+01:00"}”
14
Government recordUSAspending award FA862926PB003 (AEROVIRONMENT, INC)
USAspending.gov · Supports Government award · ceiling amount, Government award · description, Government award · end on, Government award · obligated amount, Government award · recipient, Government award · start on
“Base and all options value: $4,451,223.00”
15
Government recordUSAspending award W58RGZ26F0028 (AEROVIRONMENT, INC)
USAspending.gov · Supports Government award · ceiling amount, Government award · description, Government award · end on, Government award · obligated amount, Government award · recipient, Government award · start on
“Base and all options value: $4,973,557.56”
16
Government recordUSAspending award W58RGZ26F0139 (AEROVIRONMENT, INC)
USAspending.gov · Supports Government award · ceiling amount, Government award · description, Government award · end on, Government award · obligated amount, Government award · recipient, Government award · start on
“Base and all options value: $10,582,330.82”
17
Government recordUSAspending award W58RGZ26F0206 (AEROVIRONMENT, INC)
USAspending.gov · Supports Government award · ceiling amount, Government award · description, Government award · end on, Government award · obligated amount, Government award · recipient, Government award · start on
“Base and all options value: $17,583,318.00”
18
Government recordUSAspending award W58RGZ26F0334 (AEROVIRONMENT, INC)
USAspending.gov · Supports Government award · ceiling amount, Government award · description, Government award · end on, Government award · obligated amount, Government award · recipient, Government award · start on
“Base and all options value: $117,306,231.51”
19
Government recordUSAspending award W912CH26FA117 (AEROVIRONMENT, INC)
USAspending.gov · Supports Government award · ceiling amount, Government award · description, Government award · end on, Government award · obligated amount, Government award · recipient, Government award · start on
“Base and all options value: $89,838,736.00”

Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.