U.S. troops have withdrawn from Afghanistan but the ones that remain have a new, deadly tool at their disposal in the fight against insurgents. The Switchblade, made by a company called AeroVironment, is a combination drone and missile.
The Switchblade was introduced two years ago and deployed in Afghanistan. Weighing six pounds, the Switchblade has cost the U.S. $10 million so far. Initial reactions from U.S.-NATO military command indicate it may be adapted for wider use, Wired's Danger Room reports.
"Switchblade is in use in Afghanistan and has proven to be a very effective tool in our campaign," the 3rd Infantry Division's Lt. Col. Ben Garrett, a spokesman for U.S. troops in southern Afghanistan, said.
Additional details about the Switchblade are scant as Army is being tight-lipped about how it's deployed and its accuracy. As Danger Room points out, it is intriguing because of its specs. Unlike drones such as the Predator, the Switchblade "only looks like an aircraft once its wings unfold, following a launch from a tube," Danger Room notes. "Once in the air, the Switchblade's size limits its flight time, but its cameras send a video feed back to a remote operator who could be a dismounted soldier."
AeroVironment bills it as a tool for pursuit of an adversary on the move or for close air support-in-a-can for troops pinned down by enemy fire. That's because once a target comes into view, the operator can send the Switchblade on a one-way mission, careening it into an enemy position to detonate. It can also be pre-programmed to hit a set target.
While its place in the battlefield is inconclusive, the Army wants additional Switchblades in Afghanistan beyond the 75 already sent, Defense News reports. Eventually, the Army wants to build up a "Lethal Miniature Aerial Munition System" of tiny Switchblade-like drones, according to Danger Room.
