AeroVironment, Inc has begun production of a block upgrade, designated Block 10C, to its Switchblade Tactical Missile system.
The Digital Data Link (DDL) incorporated into Block 10C provides a stable and secure encrypted communication link that enables more efficient use of existing frequency bands and significantly reduces the likelihood of signal interception. Frequency efficiency and secure communications are critical to warfighters in today’s complex operational environment.
The Block 10C upgrade also enables the concurrent operation of multiple Switchblade systems in the same vicinity without signal conflict, provides the opportunity to extend operational ranges significantly using another DDL arbiter, such as AeroVironment’s Puma AE unmanned aircraft system, and facilitates the automatic communication of mission plans from one AeroVironment unmanned aircraft system to a Switchblade, also known as sensor to shooter operations.
Bill Nichols of the U.S. Army PEO Missiles and Space Close Combat Weapons Systems (CCWS) Program office, which manages Switchblade, said, “Switchblade Block 10C will increase the capabilities of the warfighter in the field through encrypted operation and improved Army-wide frequency de-confliction and management.”
“The new Switchblade Block 10C is the result of close collaboration between our U.S. Army customer and the AeroVironment team,” said Kirk Flittie, AeroVironment vice president and general manager of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems business segment. “Working with the Army and other users, we continue to evolve and expand the capabilities of the Switchblade tactical missile system to provide troops with the most reliable and effective force protection solution possible. We are already working on future upgrades to this important capability to give our forces an even greater advantage on the battlefield.”
AeroVironment and its strategic teammate for advanced warheads, Orbital ATK, will work together to produce and deliver the systems.
A missile which can switch targets after launch has won a U.S
AeroVironment has won a total of $15.8 million in orders under a contract for Switchblade tactical missile systems, ancillary equipment and support
Unmanned systems maker, AeroVironment has received contracts from the US Army for procurement of the companys Switchblade Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System (LMAMS) and Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) that bring the total value of Switchblade awards to $111,054,202 since August 2017. The contract awards were funded through Urgent Need Statements and include the first Switchblade order from the United States Marine Corps
AeroVironment has announced the formation of a joint venture to develop solar-powered high-altitude long-endurance, or HALE, UAS for commercial operations. This category of UAS is also referred to as high-altitude pseudo-satellites, or HAPS
Aerovironments Puma unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has been designated Puma 3 AE after the company has undertaken upgrades such as updating the datalink, new avionics and integrating new infrared (IR) sensor. The company has also upgraded Raven UAV with the same features
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