Greece is exploring the anticipation of acquiring much than the agreed 600 US-made Switchblade drones, arsenic accrued accumulation has led to reduced costs, according to defence officials.
Initially, the Greek subject secured a woody for the Switchblade 300 Block 20 and Switchblade 600 loitering munitions, with a full worth of $75 million, funded successful portion by $50 cardinal from the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. However, owed to AeroVironment’s boost successful production, the US has indicated to Athens that further drones could beryllium procured wrong the existent budget.
Discussions are underway to grow Greece’s order, arsenic these systems person demonstrated precocious effectiveness successful Ukraine.
The lightweight Switchblade 300, astatine 2.5 kg, is intended for usage against infantry and lightly armored vehicles, whereas the much robust 600 exemplary is susceptible of targeting tanks with a scope of 40 kilometers.
Greek peculiar forces person received grooming connected akin systems, facilitating speedy integration.
In addition, the Defense Ministry is considering grooming conscripts successful operating FPV kamikaze drones, perchance developed wrong Greece. With drone warfare progressively transforming modern subject tactics, Athens is determined to fortify its capabilities successful this rapidly evolving field.