AeroVironment displays its full range ogf UAVs and loitering missiles at ExpoDefensa 2021.

The American company AeroVironment displays its full range of UAVs (Unnamed Aerial Vehicles) and loitering missiles at ExpoDefensa 2021, Defense and Security Exhibition in Colombia including the Quantix reconnaissance drone and the SWITCHBLADE 300 loitering missile.

Quantix™ Recon is a powerful, simple-to-use UAS Unmanned Aerial system that delivers rapid, automated reconnaissance and hands-free data collection. (Picture source Army Recognition)

Quantix Recon is a powerful, simple-to-use UAS that delivers rapid, automated reconnaissance and hands-free data collection. Mapping and scouting tasks are effortless with its fully-automated takeoff, flight and landing functions — even first-time users can successfully operate it. Quantix Recon delivers accurate, up-to-date maps within minutes for quick mission planning and verification. Its on-board processing delivers geo-referenced, high-resolution imagery on the user's tablet as soon as Quantix Recon lands — no other devices, internet or software required.

Due to its innovative hybrid design, Quantix Recon outperforms traditional quadcopters in range and efficiency. That means you can cover more ground faster and obtain aerial maps of remote, inaccessible areas and rapidly changing environments to ensure the safety of ground troops.

Supporting conventional or special operations forces in the field or from fixed defensive positions, the combat-proven Switchblade 300 with patented wave-off feature is the ideal loitering missile for use against beyond-line-of-sight targets. Back-packable and rapidly deployable from air, sea or ground platforms, Switchblade 300 features increased lethality, reach and precision strike capabilities with low collateral effects. Remotely piloted or flown autonomously, Switchblade can provide real-time GPS coordinates and video for information gathering, targeting, or feature/object recognition. The vehicle's small size and quiet electric motor make it difficult to detect, recognize, and track, even at close range.

In November 2021, AeroVironment has announced the successful demonstration of integrating Switchblade® 300 loitering missiles and JUMP® 20 medium unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for increased mission autonomy and efficacy. 

The systems were integrated by fixing the inert Switchblade 300 tube-launch system to the existing JUMP 20 platform’s vertical lift boom with a custom-made bolt-on mount and firing solution. Switchblade 300 was remotely fired using the JUMP 20 ground control solution with in-flight control taken by a separate Switchblade ground element. Both vehicles were successfully recovered, proving the demonstration event to be the first-ever Switchblade 300 integration and air launch from a JUMP 20 Group 3 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platform.

AeroVironment Switchblade 300 Loitering missile (Picture source Army Recognition)