AeroVironment secures $990M contract for Switchblade loitering munitions

AeroVironment has been awarded a contract for the U.S. Army’s Directed Requirement for Lethal Unmanned Systems. The 5-year contract from Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground is Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity with a contract ceiling value of $990M. Deliveries of the Switchblade systems are expected to begin in months. The LUS Directed Requirement is the Army’s first effort to equip soldiers in infantry battalions with lethal, man-portable loitering munition systems. The combat-proven Switchblade systems will enhance soldiers’ capabilities with precision flight control, greater lethality against fortified targets such as armored vehicles and tanks, and the ability to track and engage moving non-line-of-sight targets. AV was awarded a contract for the LUS Directed Requirement in December 2023 and is currently delivering systems under that contract.