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Ukrainian Forces Strike Russian "Tor" Air Defense System with Switchblade 600 Drone, Video
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![Maryna_kulakova]( "Maryna Kulakova")
-924c3c302c27387e19f6c44aaeb98745.png "Maryna Kulakova")
Operators from the 14th Separate Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Regiment successfully struck a Russian "Tor" air defense system with a Switchblade 600 drone.
The regiment explained that the "Tor" was attempting to move positions at the time of the strike. Prior to this, a Ukrainian reconnaissance drone had been tracking the Russian surface-to-air missile system.
The operators then launched a Switchblade 600, an American-made loitering munition from the company AeroVironment, at the target.
Once launched, the Switchblade 600 accurately targeted and struck the "Tor" system. The drone is capable of staying airborne for up to 40 minutes, covering a distance of 40 kilometers, and can loiter over the target area before striking. Its maximum flight speed is 185 km/h.
The Switchblade 600 is equipped with a powerful warhead capable of destroying heavy armored vehicles, including tanks. The drone is launched from a tube-based system, which significantly reduces setup time and allows it to be fired from virtually any location.
Its control system, based on a tablet with a touchscreen, allows for manual or autonomous flight control, with encrypted data transmission channels and protection against electronic interception.
As part of US military aid to Ukraine, the Department of Defense signed a contract worth $17.8 million in 2022 for the production and delivery of Switchblade drones to Ukraine.
