Joe Biden announced the sending of drones to Ukraine. It could be Switchblade kamikaze drones. This remotely piloted missile is small and light and easily hits the target. A real threat to Russian armored vehicles and artillery.
Ukraine may not have planes from abroad, but it does have modern, destructive weapons. After sending Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and Javelin anti-tank missiles, Joe Biden announced the shipment of longer-range drones and air defense systems to Ukraine. According to the American media, these could be Switchblade kamikaze drones. This possibility was raised by congressional representatives in NBC News.
On paper, the Switchblade 300’s specs aren’t impressive. It has a range of 10 to 15 minutes at a distance of about twenty kilometers. On the other hand, it is light (about 3 kg), compact and, above all, this smart bomb, as it is called, hits the target every time the target is detected by the GPS. Another advantage is its rather low price: $6,000.
Another variant of this kamikaze drone, the Switchblade 600, is twice as heavy and more expensive and offers better autonomy. He could penetrate the armor of the tank.
Destroy tanks and artillery pieces
This kamikaze drone is propelled by a launcher that looks like a mortar attached to the ground. Once launched, the Switchblade deploys its wings to fly towards its target thanks to a piloting system allowing it to follow it if it moves. This machine has already proven itself. It would have been used by the United States in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KJZzgatjMg
This new assistance will be critical in destroying armored vehicles as well as artillery positions that are shelling Ukrainian cities, causing many casualties, especially among civilians. Washington has not confirmed anything, and AeroVironment, the American manufacturer that makes the weapons, has refused to respond to the press. But on his website he published informed declaring their support for Ukraine.
“We stand for freedom and support our allies and our sovereign peoples in their right to defend their homeland and their lives, even when this fundamental right is threatened. Ukraine and our Eastern European allies need these solutions to defeat the Russian military and contain the future. We ready to support you today,” says AeroVironment.
However, at the moment, no one knows yet if the Switchblades is a promise or if it has passed the stage of signing a contract with the industrialist. When will they arrive in Ukraine? Fast if AeroVironment has stock. Otherwise, their mass production would have taken several months. It is also unknown how many will be sent.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the United States and NATO member countries have organized unprecedented air transport to bring weapons to Ukraine. According to New York Times, 17,000 anti-tank missiles, including the GM-148 Javelins, were sent to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in just six days. These missiles have become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance and a nightmare for Russian armored vehicles.
