Army Advances Switchblade 400 Development and $51 Million Switchblade 600 Order

The U.S. Army advanced its Switchblade procurement in 2026 through two distinct actions: a May prototype agreement covering development, delivery, and testing of the Switchblade 400 under the Low-Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program, and an August delivery order for $51 million of Switchblade 600 systems. These actions should be read as separate program activities rather than a single procurement: the May agreement supports prototype development and testing, while the August order procures systems through an existing contracting vehicle for a foreign military sales customer.

The August order falls under a five-year, $990 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) awarded in August 2024. It covers Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Block 1 systems. The IDIQ’s ceiling and duration provide a framework for repeated orders across its performance period, but the reported $51 million delivery order is the specific funding action identified here; it should not be conflated with the full $990 million vehicle value. The source also describes the broader program as spanning loitering munitions, support, upgrades, and foreign military sales, indicating that the procurement extends beyond a one-time system delivery.

AeroVironment is identified as the prime contractor and awardee, with Amprius Technologies and ATK identified as subcontractors in the supply chain. For industry, the combination of an established IDIQ and a separate Switchblade 400 prototype effort suggests different potential routes to participation: subcontracting and supply-chain engagement tied to ongoing Switchblade 600 orders, or relevant program participation connected to prototype development and testing. The signal does not identify an open solicitation, a submission deadline, or a procurement contact, so companies should not treat these actions as an active bid opportunity.

The listed government organizations include the U.S. Army, Program Executive Office Missiles and Space, U.S. Special Operations Command, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Marine Corps. Their inclusion provides organizational context for the wider Switchblade ecosystem, but the reported actions are specifically described as Army procurement activity. Contractors assessing the market should distinguish the named organizations from the awarding activity, verify the scope and ordering status of the IDIQ through authoritative procurement records, and monitor for future orders or formal notices rather than infer requirements not identified in this signal.

• The Army’s May 2026 action is a prototype agreement for Switchblade 400 development, delivery, and testing under the LASSO program.
• The August 2026 action is a $51 million delivery order for Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Block 1 systems.
• The delivery order is for a foreign military sales customer and is issued under a five-year, $990 million IDIQ awarded in August 2024.
• The May prototype effort and August delivery order are distinct actions with different system variants and procurement purposes.
• AeroVironment is identified as the prime contractor and awardee; Amprius Technologies and ATK are identified as subcontractors.
• The broader program encompasses loitering munitions, support, upgrades, and foreign military sales, presenting potential supply-chain relevance beyond system production.
• The IDIQ’s scale may be relevant to suppliers seeking subcontracting or program participation, but the signal does not disclose specific openings or requirements.
• No open solicitation, submission deadline, or procurement contact is identified; companies should monitor official notices rather than treat the reported actions as an active competition.