Ukrainian Forces Target Russian UAV Crew With American Switchblade 600 Drone, Video

Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully struck a Russian UAV crew using the American drone, Switchblade 600.

The attack was documented in a video released by the press service of the 14th Separate Drone Aviation Brigade on Telegram.

The operators of the Brigade identified the location of a Russian reconnaissance drone crew operating the Supercam on the front lines. As the Russian personnel attempted to abandon their position, they were targeted by the Switchblade 600, which successfully hit their cluster.

Following the detection of the Russian operators, Ukrainian forces monitored their movements to adjust the drone’s flight path accordingly. The explosion caused some Russian soldiers to flee, likely sustaining injuries, while several others were left incapacitated on the ground.

The 14th Separate Drone Aviation Brigade emphasized their commitment to continuous operations, stating, “We work 24/7 to ensure the enemy faces just retribution.”

Recently, Ukrainian defenders in Donetsk also utilized the Switchblade 600 to destroy a Russian Tor surface-to-air missile system.

The Switchblade 600, developed by AeroVironment, boasts an operational flight time of 40 minutes, covering distances up to 40 kilometers. It can loiter in the air and has a maximum speed of 185 kilometers per hour. The drone is equipped with a powerful warhead capable of destroying heavy armored vehicles, including tanks.

This drone is launched from a tube-based launch system, significantly reducing deployment time and allowing for launch from various locations.

The US Department of Defense secured a contract worth $17.8 million in 2022 for the production and delivery of Switchblade drones to Ukraine. In October 2024, it was reported that AeroVironment signed an agreement with a Ukrainian company for local production of the Switchblade 600.