The approval was announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on June 18, 2024. The potential transfer includes 291 Altius 600M-V unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) loitering munitions and 720 Switchblade 300 attack drones, with a combined value of $360.2 million.  

The Altius 600M-V is a loitering munition developed by Anduril Industries. It is designed for extended endurance and precision strike capabilities, making it effective in surveillance and attacking stationary and moving targets.聽

The Switchblade 300, produced by AeroVironment, is a tube-launched, expendable loitering munition. Compact, it is designed for rapid deployment and can be used for reconnaissance as well as precision strike missions against enemy personnel and light-armored targets. 

According to the DSCA, this sale, specifically requested by Taiwanese authorities, is intended to 鈥渉elp improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region.鈥�  

The Taiwan Presidency welcomed the announcement in a statement and thanked the US government for 鈥渃ontinuing to strengthen the Taiwan-U.S. partnership and jointly safeguarding regional peace and stability,鈥� Taiwan Presidency spokesperson Karen Kuo said. 

China strongly condemned the sales to Taiwan and urged the Biden administration to “revoke its erroneous decision,” according to a Chinese Ministry of Defense spokesperson speaking to China精东影业 Xinhua state news agency. 

Countering China精东影业 military mass with expendable drones 

Deployed in substantial quantities, these expandable systems would enable Taiwan to deter a Chinese invasion by saturating advancing forces and damaging or destroying costly equipment such as landing craft, warships, and ground-based launch systems. 

In November 2020, during the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan prominently utilized Israel-manufactured loitering munitions, effectively destroying 59 Armenian vehicles, including trucks, artillery units, and tanks.  

The subsequent invasion of Ukraine by Russia confirmed the essential role of attritable systems in modern warfare. One-way attack drones proved effective in countering Russian military advances, while compact systems at the infantry level demonstrated their operational effectiveness, providing real-time reconnaissance and extending soldiers’ operational reach. 

The United States has included Altius and Switchblade drones in several of its aid packages for Kyiv. 

In August 2023, the US Department of Defense introduced the Replicator initiative to counter China精东影业 鈥渕ass鈥� and military expansion in the Indo-Pacific by using expendable drones. 

US military hopes to counter China’s military mass with expendable drones

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2023-08-29

The achievement was made in the framework of the LARINAE program, a joint effort by the Agence de l鈥橧nnovation de D茅fense (AID) and the Direction g茅n茅rale de l鈥檃rmement (DGA). 

The LARINAE program seeks to create indigenous medium-range remote-operated ammunition capable of neutralizing armored targets within a 50-kilometer (about 30-mile) radius and sustaining flight for over 60 minutes.  

The AID announced having selected two projects among 16 proposals. One is led by Nexter Arrowtech [now KNDS Ammo France鈥攅d. note], EOS Technologie, and TRAAK, and the other was offered by an MBDA-led consortium. 

In July 2023, the European missile maker MBDA unveiled its proposal for the LARINAE program. Called Mutant, the design features deployable wings for uses 鈥渞equiring compactness and ease of transport and deployment.鈥�  

MBDA to develop Mutant loitering munition for France

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2023-07-03

The ‘Veloce 330鈥� 

The KNDS-led solution integrates an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by EOS, an explosively formed penetrator (EFP) supplied by KNDS, and a navigation system capable of operating without GPS provided by TRAAK.

On April 26, 2024,聽footage of the EOS Technologie drone conducting a flight test circulated on聽social media, prompting a response from the manufacturer.聽

鈥淭he ‘Veloce 330,’ a 100% jet loitering munition crafted entirely in France, has completed its third phase of test flights,鈥� EOS Technologie commented in a . 鈥淲ith speeds exceeding 400 kilometers per hour [250 miles per hour] and covering 50 kilometers [30 miles] in just 16 minutes with half a fuel tank, our aerodynamic design and manufacturing processes stand validated for this French-made mini-Shahed 238.鈥澛�

The Shahed 238 is an Iranian loitering munition powered by a turbojet engine with a reported top speed of up to 500 kilometers per hour (310 miles per hour).  

It was first revealed to the public in November 2023 and is considered an upgrade to the Shahed 136. The latter, also known as Geran-2 in Russia, has been widely used to target civilian infrastructure during the recent invasion of Ukraine.  

Hundreds of Shahed 136/238 were also used during Iran精东影业 attack on Israel on April 14, 2024. 

Iran launches more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel, majority intercepted

• Defense

byIan Molyneaux

2024-04-14

In May 2022, a request for solution called LARINAE was emitted by the Agence de l’Innovation de D茅fense (AID, the French defense innovation agency) and the Direction g茅n茅rale de l鈥檃rmement (DGA, the French procurement and technology agency).  

It asked for indigenous 鈥渕edium-range remote-operated ammunition; ammunition capable of neutralizing armored targets within a radius of 50 km with a range of over 60 minutes.鈥� 

On June 22, 2023, the AID announced having selected an MBDA-led consortium and another project developed by Nexter Arrowtech, EOS Technologie, and TRAAK among 16 offers. 

Nexter and MBDA offer two different solutions 

Just before the selection was disclosed, Nexter had presented its bid, a surveillance drone weighing around 10 kilograms (22 pounds) with vertical take-off and landing, and which can evolve in a GPS-denied environment with an autonomy of three hours.  

The solution integrates an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by EOS, an explosively formed penetrator (EFP) supplied by Nexter, and a navigation system capable of operating without GPS provided by TRAAK. 

On June 30, 2023, MBDA presented its own offer based on a “Minimum Viable Product” approach.  

Called Mutant, the remotely controlled ammunition, also weighing around 10 kilograms (22 pounds), features deployable wings for uses “requiring compactness and ease of transport and deployment.” Concept art shared with the statement shows six Mutant drones operating as a swarm. 

MBDA highlighted its experience in developing anti-tank platforms and said the Mutant精东影业 ability to strike beyond the line-of-sight would complement other weapons already in use with the French Army. 

鈥淭his new propelled and guided munition benefits from technologies developed by MBDA over many years, in particular the AKERON family, to ensure very high levels of performance in neutralizing armored and mobile targets, while guaranteeing operational reliability and complete safety,鈥� the manufacturer said. 

The demonstrations for the LARINAE contract are scheduled to take place in 2024.聽

What is a loitering munition? 

A loitering munition, colloquially known as a suicide drone or kamikaze drone, is a type of UAV designed to be directed toward an enemy target and crash into it, detonating in the process.  

These munitions offer a safer and disposable alternative to regular man-portable anti-tank systems (MANPATS) due to their extended range. Additionally, their hovering capability and visual guidance enable greater precision in targeting. 

These systems have gained widespread use in conflicts such as the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and have subsequently garnered interest from several armed forces.聽

Russian loitering munition target Ukrainian IRIS-T air defense system: video

• Defense
• War in Ukraine

byClement Charpentreau

2023-06-08