Greece purchases 592 US-made Switchblade 300 and 600 loitering munitions for Special Forces.

According to Doureios on October 10, 2024, Greece plans to acquire 592 units of Switchblade 300 Block 20 and Switchblade 600 loitering munitions from the United States. The Hellenic Parliament’s Special Permanent Committee on Armaments and Contracts approved this procurement on September 17, 2024, as part of a broader defense enhancement initiative.
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Most of these Switchblade loitering munitions will be allocated to Greek Special Operations and Special Forces units, with a smaller portion assigned to infantry units for operational familiarization. (Picture source: AeroVironment)

Greece's decision follows a series of strategic evaluations that began in December 2023, when the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA) approved a related study for the acquisition, upgrade, and modernization of military equipment. Initial considerations involved two companies: the Israeli firm Aeronautics, which offered the Orbiter 1K, and the American company AeroVironment, which manufactures the Switchblade.

However, in late 2023, Greece opted solely for the Switchblade, a choice influenced by a shift in funding priorities. The initial plan to procure used AAV7A1 amphibious armored vehicles from the United States was “frozen,” with the allocated funds redirected to the loitering munitions program. Specifically, $25 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) credits, provided under the U.S. European Recapitalization Incentive Program (ERIP), were repurposed to cover part of the Switchblade procurement costs. This funding was initially available to support Greece's transition away from its BMP-1 armored vehicles of Soviet origin.

Additionally, Greece received a further $30 million in FMF credits as part of U.S. assistance for Greece’s support of Ukraine. Combined, these credits amount to approximately two-thirds of the €75.2 million total cost of the loitering munitions procurement, reducing Greece’s direct financial outlay. The acquisition involves both the Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 models, which together total 592 units. Most of these loitering munitions will be allocated to Greek Special Operations and Special Forces units, with a smaller portion assigned to infantry units for operational familiarization.

The Switchblade 300 Block 20 variant extends the 300 model's operational capabilities, increasing flight time to 20 minutes and adding a panning EO/IR camera suite for continuous target identification. (Picture source: AeroVironment)

The Switchblade 300 is a small, expendable loitering munition designed to provide platoon-sized infantry units with precision strike capabilities. This UAV assists units under enemy fire by engaging long-range targets, following a pre-programmed path, and allowing operators to redirect its course en route. It has been deployed to destroy light-armored vehicles and personnel, and it can detonate mid-flight if necessary. Utilizing a Ground Control Station (GCS) compatible with other AeroVironment UAVs, such as the Wasp, RQ-11 Raven, and RQ-20 Puma, the Switchblade 300 can be coordinated with other drones to locate and attack targets.

Its forward-firing warhead minimizes collateral damage, with an option to adjust detonation height mid-flight. The system is considered a loitering munition rather than a UAV, as it is not recoverable and is controlled by a fly-by-radio frequency signal. Additionally, it has been paired with SRC Inc.’s software and counter-drone technologies, enhancing its capability to intercept hostile UAVs.

The Switchblade 300 Block 20 variant extends the 300 model's operational capabilities, increasing flight time to 20 minutes and adding a panning EO/IR camera suite for continuous target identification. With a gross weight of around 8 pounds, it supports land, sea, and mobile platforms, allowing rapid deployment in under two minutes. The Block 20 also features an improved Digital Data Link (DDL) for secure, encrypted communication, reducing signal interception risks, enabling concurrent operations of multiple Switchblade systems, and supporting extended range operations through additional UAVs.

The Block 20 includes a Multi-Pack Launcher (MPL), which can remotely launch several units in configurations from 2 to 20 rounds, with reloading times of under 30 seconds per round. This configuration supports base defense and facilitates "sensor-to-shooter" operations by transmitting mission plans from other AeroVironment UAVs.

The Switchblade 600 is a larger loitering munition intended for anti-armor missions, weighing 54.5 kilograms when loaded in the tube with the fire control system. (Picture source: AeroVironment)

The Switchblade 600 is a larger loitering munition intended for anti-armor missions, weighing 54.5 kilograms when loaded in the tube with the fire control system. It can travel up to 40 kilometers in 20 minutes, then loiter for another 20 minutes, giving it a total range of 80 kilometers. Its warhead is based on the Javelin anti-tank missile, and it operates at a speed of 185 kilometers per hour during the terminal phase of its flight.

The Switchblade 600 is controlled through a tablet-based system with autonomous and manual modes, secured by encrypted data links and anti-spoofing GPS. It is also compatible with a pocket DDL module for longer-range engagements. As part of the Army's Single Multi-Mission Attack Missile development program, AeroVironment has been able to scale production to manufacture up to 6,000 Switchblade 600 units annually. This model can also be configured for a six-pack vehicle-mounted launcher or air-launch options, broadening its potential deployment scenarios.

The agreement, valued at 3.47 billion euros, includes the procurement of 20 F-35A Lightning II aircraft, with an option to order an additional 20 fighters. (Picture source: US DoD)

Greece’s procurement of these munitions is part of its larger ten-year defense spending strategy, which includes plans to acquire 20 F-35A Lightning II aircraft, with an option to order an additional 20 fighters, from the United States and a fourth Belharra frigate from France. The Switchblades are also intended to complement other weapons systems in Greece’s inventory, such as the Spike anti-tank missiles recently purchased from Israel, which will be stationed on Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. In addition, Greece is developing its own drone and anti-drone technologies as part of a broader focus on modernizing its defense capabilities.

The choice to procure Switchblade munitions directly from the United States rather than through domestic production has raised questions regarding the Greek defense industry’s capacity for developing similar technologies. While some efforts have been made to advance indigenous loitering munition projects, these remain at the initial design or early development stages. The Greek Armed Forces' reliance on foreign partners reflects current operational requirements that domestic capabilities have not yet met.

This loitering munitions acquisition aligns with ongoing U.S.-Greece defense cooperation and has received approval from Greece's top foreign and defense decision-making body, the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA). The decision situates Greece’s defense procurement within the context of its relations with NATO allies and broader strategic objectives, as well as ongoing regional tensions with Turkey over maritime boundaries, airspace, and resource rights in the Aegean Sea.