ARLINGTON, VA. - AeroVironment's (AV) Switchblade 600 loitering munition system has been selected for Tranche 1 of the first iteration of the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) Replicator initiative. AV's Switchblade 600 is a man-portable, extended-range loitering munition system equipped with an anti-armor warhead for engaging larger, hardened targets at greater distances. The first iteration of the Replicator initiative aims to accelerate all-domain, attritable autonomous systems to warfighters at speed and scale.

The first iteration of the Replicator initiative will field thousands of autonomous systems across multiple domains within the next 18-24 months, as part of the Pentagon's strategy to counter peer adversaries' rapid military buildup. The initiative will prioritize the fielding of attritable capabilities - affordable uncrewed platforms that allow commanders to tolerate a higher degree of risk in employing these "force multiplying" systems.

"Switchblade 600 is a battle-proven system in full-rate production that can support the DoD's desire to field thousands of autonomous systems across multiple warfighting domains," said AV's SVP of Loitering Munition Systems, Brett Hush.

Equipped with advanced sensors and precision flight control, Switchblade 600 is capable of quick and easy deployment via tube launch and can fly, track and engage non-line of sight targets. Switchblade 600's patented wave-off and recommit capability allows operators to abort the mission and re-engage as the mission requires.

"Our uncrewed systems, autonomy technology and computer vision software can help achieve multidomain operations in a heavily contested battlespace, at very low costs and high levels of resiliency," continued Hush. "We have not only invested in the maturation of such disruptive technologies but also the production capability and capacity to produce large volumes at the level of reliability that the U.S. DoD expects."

Source: AeroVironment
Associated URL: https://www.avinc.com/resources/press-releases/view/avs-switchblade-600-selected-for-tranche-1-of-the-u.s-department-of-defenses-replicator-initiative

KUALA LUMPUR - China’s Poly Technology debuted a new large UUV, the UUV300CB, in model form at the DSA 2024 exhibition in Malaysia. At a booth display, company officials said the multipurpose UUV is being developed and can perform reconnaissance and mine-laying operations.

A separate variant, the UUV300CD, reportedly employs torpedo launchers featured on both sides of the vessel. The autonomous UUV300CB reaches 11.5 meters long and has a diameter of 1.6 meters. The 50-ton UUV is powered by an electric motor for speeds up to 12 knots and can operate at depths of up to 300 meters.

The vessel reportedly carries small UUVS and lightweight torpedoes. While China is certainly developing UUV technology, Poly Technology’s presentation does not represent a known operational vessel. Like other conceptual and developmental defense systems, China is likely overstating its current capabilities and progress to some degree.

Source: Naval News
Associated URL: https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/05/dsa-2024-new-torpedo-launching-uuv-from-china/
Author: Tayfun Ozberk 

BINGEN, Wa. - Airbus has finalized the acquisition of U.S.-based Aerovel and its unmanned aerial system (UAS), Flexrotor, in a move to strengthen its portfolio of tactical unmanned solutions. Flexrotor is a small tactical unmanned aerial system designed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions at sea and over land.

Terms of the deal were not announced.

The Flexrotor, a modern Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aircraft with a maximum launch weight of 25 kg (55 lbs), has been designed for ISTAR missions for more than 12-14 hours in a typical operational configuration. It can integrate different types of payloads including an electro-optical system and advanced sensors to suit customers’ unique mission needs. With the ability to autonomously launch and recover from either land or sea requiring only a 3.7 by 3.7 m (12 by 12 ft.) area, the Flexrotor is ideal for expeditionary missions requiring minimal footprint. Through the support of the US Department of Defense (DoD), and contracted deployment in a variety of maritime security exercises, the Flexrotor is a mission-proven, force multiplier for operations in harsh, high-threat, GPS-denied environments. The Flexrotor is also being operated for parapublic missions such as forest fire surveillance (providing firefighters with critical images day or night) and can address other demanding mission needs, including ice navigation (helping guide naval vessels through ice in the Arctic ocean), law enforcement, and border patrol.

Aerovel employs more than 30 people and presents a significant growth trajectory. It will continue to design and manufacture the Flexrotor in Bingen, Washington.

Source: https://www.airbus.com