On Friday, December 5, 2025, the American company General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) announced that, together with AeroVironment Inc., it had demonstrated for the U.S. Army the PERCH (Precision Effects & Reconnaissance, Canister-Housed) loitering-munition launcher for Switchblade 300 and 600 drones on the M1A2SEPv3 Abrams tank. The demonstration took place during the MARS (Machine Assisted Rugged Sapper) event at Fort Hood, Texas.
Zdjęcie: General Dynamics Land Systems
PERCH is a modular kit that integrates AeroVironment’s Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 loitering munitions with M1A2SEPv3 Abrams tanks and Stryker ICV wheeled armored vehicles, providing them with beyond-line-of-sight reconnaissance, surveillance, and target-acquisition capabilities, as well as kinetic strike options. PERCH requires no welding or cutting to mount on the tank; it replaces the Abrams’ bustle rack and is attached using existing mounting points. Future versions will operate using the vehicle’s existing computer systems.
During the MARS demonstration, held October 26–30 this year, operators carried out a complex obstacle-breaching maneuver using beyond-line-of-sight reconnaissance and the ability to locate high-value targets beyond the horizon, enabled by Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 loitering munitions launched from the Abrams via the PERCH launcher
“PERCH allows units to deploy Switchblade loitering munitions far forward on the battlefield while remaining covered and concealed themselves,” said Jim Pasquarette, vice president, U.S. strategy and business development, General Dynamics Land Systems. “We have seen a lot of Soldier interest in this readymade, effective concept, and we look forward to future demonstrations. With our partners at AV, we’re generating the power to win on the modern battlefield.”
“Integrating Switchblade 300 and 600 into General Dynamics Land Systems platforms through the PERCH modular kit delivers immediate operational advantages – extending reach and enabling rapid, precise effects from protected positions,” said Brian Young, senior vice president, loitering munitions systems at AV. “This demonstration showcased the expanded beyond-line-of-sight precision engagement capabilities available to our military by embedding mature loitering munition systems on combat vehicles. We value our partnership with GDLS and our shared commitment to delivering reliable, field-ready solutions to warfighters.”
The Switchblade 600 has a range of over 40 km (which can be increased to more than 90 km) and an endurance of over 40 minutes. The system weighs 54.4 kg, of which 22.7 kg is the air vehicle carrying a warhead based on the FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missile warhead. It is equipped with a four-sensor electro-optical seeker and is controlled via a tablet. Its cruising speed is 112 km/h, and during an attack it reaches 185 km/h. It can strike targets from above in the top-attack mode. This type of munition is used by the U.S. and Ukrainian armed forces (as military aid), and soon Greece, Lithuania, Romania, and Sweden will join them.
The Switchblade 300 is a smaller variant of the Switchblade 600, introduced in two subvariants: Block 10C and Block 20.
The first (Block 10C) is 610 mm long and weighs 2.7 kg. After launch, it can stay airborne for 10 minutes and fly up to 10 km from the operator. Its maximum flight speed is 157 km/h. It is equipped with a day camera, an infrared camera, and a GPS locator. The carried warhead has an explosive effect equivalent to a 40 mm grenade. Communication with the operator is carried out using the DDL (Digital Data Link) module. A single Switchblade 300 can be launched by one soldier. A variant with an MPL (Multi-Pack Launcher) was developed, weighing 73 kg and containing six tubes for individual loitering munitions ready for use (the design allows scaling from 2 to 20 tubes).
The second subvariant (Block 20) offers extended flight time up to 20 minutes and an improved DDL link range. It is equipped with panoramic day and infrared cameras, providing real-time imagery. The munition’s weight has been increased to 3.6 kg. The drone can transmit intelligence data such as GPS coordinates of targets. The estimated cost of a single drone is 90–120 thousand USD.
Switchblade 300 systems have been delivered to the U.S., the United Kingdom, and France, and soon also to Greece, Taiwan, and Australia. In Poland, AeroVironment Inc. products are distributed by Parasnake Arkadiusz Szewczyk of Kielce. In October this year, the company presented a new generation of munitions: the Switchblade 600 Block 2, Switchblade 400, and the Switchblade 300 Block 20 with an EFP warhead.
NEWS 📢: General Dynamics Land Systems and @aerovironment successfully demonstrate PERCH loitering munitions launcher
Full release: https://t.co/Ci0WhXcOdd#ThePowerToWin pic.twitter.com/kGdWEqi5ld
— General Dynamics Land Systems (@GD_LandSystems) December 5, 2025
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