Fresh PCB Concepts: Resilience and Renewal in Domestic PCB Manufacturing
Designers Notebook: Power and Ground Distribution Basics
Elementary, Mr. Watson: Heat—The Hidden Villain of Power Electronics
AV Secures $990M Contract to Supply U.S. Army with Switchblade Loitering Munitions
August 29, 2024 | BUSINESS WIREEstimated reading time: 1 minute
AeroVironment (AV) has been awarded a contract for the U.S. Army’s Directed Requirement (DR) for Lethal Unmanned Systems (LUS). The 5-year contract from Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground is Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) with a contract ceiling value of $990M. Deliveries of the Switchblade® systems are expected to begin in months.
The LUS Directed Requirement is the Army’s first effort to equip soldiers in infantry battalions with lethal, man-portable loitering munition systems. The combat-proven Switchblade systems will enhance soldiers' capabilities with precision flight control, greater lethality against fortified targets such as armored vehicles and tanks, and the ability to track and engage moving non-line-of-sight targets. AV was awarded a contract for the LUS Directed Requirement in December 2023 and is currently delivering systems under that contract.
“AV is proud to have been selected to provide Switchblade for this critical and urgent Army requirement,” said Brett Hush, AV’s senior vice president and general manager of Loitering Munition Systems. “This latest contract underscores the unmatched maturity and effectiveness of our system, as well as AV’s strategic positioning to rapidly produce and deliver these cutting-edge solutions to operators in the field.”
Switchblade represents the next generation of extended-range loitering munition systems, providing operators in the field with a multi-mission loitering munition system capable of multi-domain operations. The combat-proven system also features high-precision optics and extended loitering endurance.
“Starting with the LUS Directed Requirement, we are well positioned to meet the Army’s emerging needs, leveraging our robust production capability and supply chain capacity to ensure rapid fielding and enhanced combat overmatch for our soldiers,” continued Hush.
This contract further solidifies AV’s role as a leading provider of innovative unmanned solutions. The company remains committed to supporting the U.S. Army’s mission by delivering advanced technology that ensures operational superiority and enhances the safety and effectiveness of our military personnel.
Share on:
Testimonial
"We’re proud to call I-Connect007 a trusted partner. Their innovative approach and industry insight made our podcast collaboration a success by connecting us with the right audience and delivering real results."
Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
UHDI Fundamentals: UHDI Technology and Automated Inspection
11/03/2025 | Anaya Vardya, American Standard CircuitsFollowing up on the last article on integrating ultra high density interconnect (UHDI) PCB technologies and Quality 5.0, here we will do a deeper dive into the automated inspection component. UHDI applications demand extreme precision, with line/space dimensions below 25 µm and microvias below 30 µm. Automated inspection systems are essential to achieving the defect-free fabrication required at these scales, and legacy automated inspection systems are becoming obsolete and ineffective.
OSI Systems Reports Fiscal Q1 2026 Financial Results
10/31/2025 | BUSINESS WIREOSI Systems, Inc. announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2026.
Aircraft Wire and Cable Market to surpass USD 3.2 Billion by 2034
10/30/2025 | Global Market Insights Inc.The global aircraft wire and cable market was valued at USD 1.8 billion in 2024 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.9% to reach USD 3.2 billion by 2034, according to recent report by Global Market Insights Inc.
David Schild Addresses Printed Circuit Board Issues as a Panelist at AUVSI
10/30/2025 | PCBAAOn October 28, Printed Circuit Board Association of America executive director David Schild appeared on a panel at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) conference on the topic of “First Supply Chains: Strengthening the Industrial Base for Autonomy.” PCBAA sponsored the event and Schild shared his views on issues facing the American microelectronics industry.
BAE Contract Agreed with the Republic of Türkiye for Typhoon Aircraft
10/28/2025 | BAE SystemsThe UK Government has announced a c.£5.4 billion agreement with the Republic of Türkiye for the purchase of 20 Typhoon aircraft and an associated weapons and integration package, sustaining more than 20,000 highly skilled jobs across the UK supply chain.