Ukrainian Switchblade 600 Drones Wipe Out At Least $50 Million Worth of Russian Air Defenses

Ukrainian forces utilized American-made Switchblade 600 attack drones to destroy Russian Buk and Tor air defense systems deep behind enemy lines in the temporarily occupied Donetsk region, the 14th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Aerial Systems reported on April 2.

Over the past two weeks, the unit has identified and neutralized three Russian air defense systems in the region, demonstrating the growing effectiveness of drone warfare against high-value enemy targets.

“We used strike drones equipped with a target acquisition system and automatic guidance,” the Ukrainian military stated.

Before the attack, Ukrainian reconnaissance drones monitored Russian positions, tracking the movements of enemy air defense systems.

Despite their advanced radar capabilities, Russian Buk and Tor missile systems failed to detect or intercept the incoming Switchblade 600 drones, highlighting a critical vulnerability in Russia’s defensive network.

The financial loss for Moscow is significant. The estimated cost of a Tor system ranges between $50-60 million, while a Buk-M3 system is valued at approximately $45 million, a more outdated variant of the system Buk-M1 is valued at $10 million.

Once enemy positions were identified, Ukrainian forces launched Switchblade 600 drones using a tube-based launcher. This system significantly reduces deployment time and allows launches from virtually any location, providing a strategic advantage in fast-moving operations.

The Switchblade 600 has an operational flight time of up to 40 minutes and a range of 40 kilometers. It can loiter in the air before striking its target at a maximum speed of 185 km/h.

Designed to destroy heavy armor, including tanks, the drone carries a powerful warhead, making it a formidable weapon against well-defended targets.

The Switchblade drones were first supplied to Ukraine under a $17.8 million contract signed by the US Department of Defense in 2022.

In October 2024, reports emerged that AeroVironment, the manufacturer of the Switchblade 600, had signed an agreement with a Ukrainian company to localize production, further strengthening Ukraine’s drone warfare capabilities.