Key Highlights
- AeroVironment received a U.S. Army prototype agreement to develop its Switchblade 400 loitering munition for the LASSO program.
- The Switchblade 400 operates as a man-portable, medium-range anti-armor system weighing 39 pounds and engaging targets at ranges up to 65 kilometers.
- This agreement follows a $186 million delivery order issued in February 2026 and an August 2024 contract worth nearly $1 billion for alternative Switchblade models.
- Army budget documents show approximately $110 million allocated for LASSO procurement in fiscal year 2027, with nearly $1.2 billion earmarked through FY31.
- Financial terms of the prototype agreement remain undisclosed by AeroVironment.
AeroVironment (AVAV) secured a prototype agreement from the U.S. Army on Monday for its Switchblade 400 loitering munition, expanding the company’s growing portfolio of military drone contracts. Shares of AVAV declined 1.17% following the announcement.
The agreement integrates the Switchblade 400 into the Army’s Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance program, commonly known as LASSO. This initiative aims to enhance loitering munition capabilities for mobile brigade combat teams operating in contested battlespace environments.
Army budget documentation outlines a specific operational gap the service seeks to address. Mobile brigade combat teams currently lack organic capabilities to neutralize tanks, armored vehicles, and fortified positions while limiting collateral damage across diverse terrain and weather conditions. LASSO represents the Army’s solution to this capability shortfall.
The Switchblade 400 functions as a dedicated anti-armor weapon system. The platform can eliminate moving tanks and armored targets at distances reaching 65 kilometers and requires only a single operator to deploy within five minutes.
The complete munition weighs 39 pounds and accommodates standard launch tube configurations. Operational speeds include a loitering velocity of up to 70 miles per hour and a maximum sprint speed of 90 miles per hour.
The platform operates through AeroVironment’s AV_Halo command-and-control architecture. The Switchblade 400 represents the first loitering munition specifically engineered to function within this integrated ecosystem.
EO/IR sensor packages combined with aided target recognition enable autonomous target detection and classification in day and night conditions. The system maintains compatibility with tactical networks such as ATAK and Nett Warrior.
The Army emphasized one particular capability: mid-mission strike abort functionality. This feature provides operational flexibility in scenarios involving civilian populations or fluid targeting situations where traditional munitions would offer limited options.
Expanding Military Partnership
This prototype award strengthens an already substantial partnership between AeroVironment and Army leadership. The service granted the company a nearly $1 billion contract in August 2024 covering Switchblade 600 and Switchblade 300 variants through a Lethal Unmanned Systems Directed Requirement.
February 2026 brought a subsequent $186 million delivery order for Block 2 iterations of those platforms. The Switchblade 600 earned selection for LASSO’s initial increment, prompting the Army to pursue additional platform integration into the program architecture.
AeroVironment introduced the Switchblade 400 during the fall unveiling last year. The prototype agreement will facilitate accelerated development, delivery timelines, and operational testing of the system, company representatives confirmed.
The agreement’s monetary value was not made public.
Budget Allocations Reflect Long-Range Investment
Army budget planning documents provide perspective on the program’s financial scope. The service has submitted a request for roughly $110 million in LASSO procurement funding for fiscal year 2027. The FY26 through FY31 planning window projects total program expenditures approaching $1.2 billion.
Subsequent LASSO increments will prioritize extended engagement ranges, improved lethality parameters, and diversified payload configurations targeting asset categories beyond traditional armored vehicles.
AeroVironment faces competition within the LASSO development pipeline. Textron Systems disclosed earlier this year that it received a prototype agreement for its Damocles platform through the same program framework, though financial details of that arrangement also remain confidential.
The Army’s fiscal year 2027 budget submission includes approximately $110 million allocated specifically for LASSO program activities.
