The US State Department has approved a potential $80.1 million sale of Switchblade loitering munitions and associated equipment to Greece under the Foreign Military Sales program.
The Greek government requested 350 Switchblade 300 Block 20 Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile Systems and 35 fire-control systems. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency submitted the required certification to Congress, allowing the proposed transaction to advance.
The authorization represents a key step in the procurement process but does not constitute a final contract. Athens and Washington must still negotiate the final price, quantities, configuration and delivery arrangements.
Switchblade 600 included in the proposed package
In addition to the 350 Switchblade 300 units, the proposed package includes an unspecified number of larger Switchblade 600 weapons equipped with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module GPS technology.
Greece would also receive fire-control equipment for the Switchblade 600, tactical battery chargers for the smaller model, smart chargers for the larger version and initial spare-parts packages. The agreement would cover operator and maintenance training, field-service support and engineering, technical and logistics assistance from the US government and the contractor.
AeroVironment Inc., based in Simi Valley, California, would serve as the principal contractor. According to the State Department, no offset agreement has been proposed in connection with the transaction. The implementation of the sale would not require the permanent deployment of additional US government or contractor personnel to Greece.
Greece advances earlier plan to acquire US loitering munitions
The approval follows an earlier Greek decision to acquire both the Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 as part of the modernization of the Hellenic Armed Forces. The Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense, known as KYSEA, authorized the procurement in December 2024.
The plan announced at the time covered almost 600 Switchblade units and carried an estimated value of €75.2 million. US Foreign Military Financing was expected to cover a substantial portion of the cost.
The acquisition reflects Athens’ increasing focus on unmanned technology, networked military operations and precision-guided weapons. The portable platforms would allow ground forces and special operations units to monitor an area and engage targets beyond an operator’s direct line of sight.
Recent conflicts have highlighted the growing military importance of relatively inexpensive unmanned weapons, particularly against armored formations, artillery positions, command centers and fortified targets.
How switchblade weapons operate
Loitering munitions combine the surveillance capabilities of an unmanned aerial vehicle with the strike function of a precision-guided weapon. After launch, the aircraft can remain over a designated area while transmitting live imagery. An operator can identify and track a target before directing the weapon toward it.
The Switchblade 300 Block 20 can remain airborne for approximately 10 to 15 minutes, according to AeroVironment. The updated version features improved sensors, a redesigned user interface, modular payload options and extended-range capabilities. Its operator can cancel or redirect an attack if battlefield conditions change or new information emerges. This wave-off function can help prevent an incorrect strike and reduce the risk of unintended damage.
Designed for use by small ground units, the Switchblade 300 is light enough for troops to carry and can be launched rapidly without a runway or large supporting infrastructure. The heavier Switchblade 600 carries an anti-armor warhead intended for armored vehicles and hardened positions. AeroVironment says it offers more than 40 minutes of endurance and can operate at distances exceeding 40 kilometers.
Ukraine has deployed Switchblade weapons supplied by Washington, while various types of loitering munitions have appeared in conflicts across the South Caucasus, the Middle East and Africa. Their growing battlefield role has also accelerated the development of countermeasures. Electronic warfare, signal jamming, air defenses and specialized anti-drone systems can reduce their effectiveness, prompting manufacturers to improve navigation, communications and resistance to interference.
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