The U.S. Army Won’t Buy Anymore Switchblade 300 Kamikaze Drones
A U.S. Army spokesperson would not comment on whether the program was being terminated, telling us only that “The Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System (LMAMS) has satisfied the Department of Defense fielding and replenishment requirements” and declined to make further comment.
ByDavid HamblingPublished13 hours ago
In a surprise move, the U.S. Army has decided not to buy more Switchblade 300 kamikaze drones.
The DoD has supplied over 700 of the portable loitering munitions to Ukraine from existing stocks. This would normally lead to an increased annual purchase in this year’s Army budget for LMAMS (Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System), which the Switchblade falls under, to make up for the munitions transferred shortfall.
Instead, the Army’s recent Missiles Procurement budget states that “LMAMS has no FY 2024 funding.”
The Army acquired 900 Switchblade 300s in the 2022 budget and 525 in 2023. They were bought at a similar rate in previous years – dating back to its introduction in 2012 – so the sudden end looks like a change.
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2023/04/the-u-s-army-wont-buy-anymore-switchblade-300-kamikaze-drones/
