On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, the American company General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) announced that, together with AeroVironment Inc., it had successfully integrated and tested the Switchblade 600 loitering munition with the MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) combat unmanned aerial vehicle.
Photo: GA-ASI
The flight tests took place on July 22–24 of this year at the Yuma Proving Grounds military range, belonging to the United States Army. This was the first-ever launch of the Switchblade 600 from an unmanned aerial vehicle.
“This cooperative effort showcased how combining different unmanned technologies could really provide value and effects to the warfighter,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “By using MQ-9A to carry the Switchblade, the MQ-9A is able to stand off farther from enemy weapons systems and increase the range of the SB600, which will provide greater access and options in contested airspace.”
Ta współpraca pokazała, jak łączenie różnych technologii bezzałogowych może przynieść realne korzyści i efekty dla żołnierzy – powiedział prezes GA-ASI, David R. Alexander. Dzięki wykorzystaniu MQ-9A do przenoszenia Switchblade, MQ-9A może oddalić się od wrogich systemów uzbrojenia i zwiększyć zasięg Switchblade 600, co zapewni lepszy dostęp i większe możliwości w przestrzeni powietrznej objętej konfliktem zbrojnym.
After the successful integration with the MQ-9A, the test team launched two Switchblade 600s: one with a mass/size equivalent of a warhead, and the other with a live high-explosive fragmentation warhead. After launch, the team transferred control of the loitering munition from the MQ-9A ground control station to an operator on the ground, closer to the operational area.
The test further confirmed GA-ASI’s ability to integrate and operate a variety of air-launched effectors on the battlefield – both those developed by GA-ASI and by partners such as AeroVironment Inc. – and how their use in conflict provides the military with additional capabilities.
“This successful demonstration is the result of close coordination, technical rigor, and shared commitment across teams,” said Wahid Nawabi, AV Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We appreciate the strong collaboration with GA-ASI in achieving this integration milestone. The ability to air launch and control Switchblade 600 from the MQ-9A UAS platform via SATCOM highlights the system’s adaptability and operational maturity—reinforcing our commitment to delivering advanced capabilities in direct support of the warfighter.”
“This successful integration is more than a technical achievement—it’s a clear demonstration of what’s possible when proven systems are combined to create new operational advantages,” said Jimmy Jenkins, Executive Vice President, Precision Strike & Defense Systems for AV. “By enabling Switchblade 600 to launch from the MQ-9A with SATCOM control, we’re opening up new possibilities for long-range, precision effects that directly support the warfighter—anywhere, anytime.“
Switchblade 600
The Switchblade 600 has a range of over 40 km (which can be extended 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. 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 attack 185 km/h. It can strike targets from above in top attack mode.
This type of munition is used by the U.S. and Ukrainian armed forces (as military aid), and will soon also be operated by Greece, Lithuania, Romania, and Sweden. In Poland, AeroVironment Inc.’s partner is Parasnake Arkadiusz Szewczyk, which showcased the Switchblade 600 during the XXXII International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) 2024.
MQ-9A Reaper
Until now, the MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 has been adapted to carry AGM-114R2 Hellfire II anti-tank guided missiles as well as GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-38 JDAM, GBU-49, and GBU-54 guided bombs. The U.S. has additionally integrated its aircraft with AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and has also planned integration with AIM-120 AMRAAM and AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles.
Outside the U.S., these aircraft have been acquired by, among others, Italy, France, the Netherlands, and Spain, initially for observation, surveillance, and reconnaissance. In recent years, these countries have decided to modernize them from Block 1 to Block 5 standard, enabling integration with the above-mentioned armament. Meanwhile, the U.K. has operated the combat variant from the outset, while the aircraft temporarily leased by Poland are unarmed and will in the future be replaced by three MQ-9B SkyGuardian systems acquired outright.
GA-ASI recently collaborated with @aerovironment on the air launch of their Switchblade 600 loitering munition from the company's MQ-9A Block 5 #UAS, marking the first time an SB600 has launched from an unmanned aircraft.
Read the news: https://t.co/Np71aV96Dx#MQ9A pic.twitter.com/7eZxj036nI
— General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) (@GenAtomics_ASI) September 10, 2025
SB600 Takes Flight: AV has integrated our Switchblade 600 on the @genatomics_asi MQ-9A Reaper–an important step forward in advancing air-launched, extended-reach, precision-strike capabilities in complex, multi-domain environments. Read More → https://t.co/Ymtahma68c pic.twitter.com/BHGIWWwE8y
— AV (@aerovironment) September 10, 2025