Australia announced that it ordered its first loitering munitions from overseas, specifically the U.S.-manufactured Switchblade 300 from AeroVironment. The Switchblade 300 is widely used by Ukrainian soldiers against Russian invaders, with recent approval for a USD $60.2 million Foreign Military Sale of 720 of these munitions to Taiwan. Canberra did not mention quantities or price, but stated that the first examples would reach Australia later this year and enter Australian Defence Force service in 2025.
The Switchblade 300, with a 3.69-pound warhead and 19-mile range, will enhance the drones in the ADF’s arsenal. Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy emphasized the importance of new technology and asymmetric advantage in the Defence Strategic Review. However, Australian firm DefendTex criticized the ADF for being slow to acquire loitering munitions and faced restrictions in exporting warhead-equipped drones to Ukraine.
Australian firm Innovaero is developing the One-Way Loitering (OWL) munition, which has a 125-mile range, 100-minute endurance, and carries a 15-pound anti-armor or fragmentation warhead. Sypaq Systems, another Australian company, has been delivering low-cost Corvo drones to Ukraine, where troops have jury-rigged them with explosives as loitering munitions.
