The Canadian Army will be receiving Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 loitering munitions systems for its troops in Latvia. (U.S. Department of Defense photo)
By David Pugliese
The Canadian Army will be receiving a new capability, albeit in limited quantities.
Defence Minister Bill Blair announced Feb. 16 that the Canadian Forces would be receiving Switchblade loitering munitions systems in a $67 million deal. The weapons are being purchased from AeroVironment Inc of Arlington, Virginia.
Canada will acquire the Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 loitering munitions systems for its troops in Latvia.
The Switchback systems can reliably locate, track, and neutralize adversary targets beyond visual line of sight to a range of 40km, according to the Department of National Defence. The purchase will also allow the Canadian Army to develop and refine its tactics, techniques, and procedures for the coordination and employment of precision guided fires, setting the conditions for the successful integration of future long-range precision fires and loitering munition capabilities, DND added in its news release.
The Canadian Army and the Department of National Defence declined to answer any further questions about the purchase.
It declined to explain why two different types of Switchblade variants were being purchased. It would not say when the munitions are expected to arrive in Latvia.
In addition, the Canadian Army declined to state whether there was a competition held or whether this was a sole-source arrangement for the weapons. No details were provided whether there would be any industrial benefits for Canadian companies but increasingly Canadian firms have complained they are being shut out of any work on such projects.
Canadian soldiers are in Latvia as part of the Canadian-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in July 2023 that, as part of a major commitment to NATO, Canada would spend an additional $2.6 billion to double the number of troops it stationed in Latvia. The government’s plan would see up to 2,200 troops deployed for what is being called Operation Reassurance.
Switchblade is man-portable and launches from a tube. It has spring-loaded wings, folded in the tube, which then open up once the munition is fired.
The weapon is launched from its tube by compressed gas and then uses an electric motor to propel the explosive-laden drone. A video link to the system allows the operator to see targets.
Switchblade was developed by the U.S. Army; it became a favorite weapon with U.S. special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Besides U.S. military forces, Australia, France, Greece, Lithuania, Romania, Sweden, Taiwan have all acquired Switchblades. Ukraine has also received the weapon system.
In April 2023, the U.S. Army decided it would not purchase anymore Switchblade 300s.
In July 2023, the defence and security-oriented website, 1945, suggested that the decision to no longer acquire Switchblade 300 systems was due to cost and effectiveness. Each Switchblade 300 is estimated to cost $58,000 (U.S. dollars) while the war in Ukraine showed how commercial drones costing as little as $700 could be just as effective, according to 1945.
AeroVironment Inc noted that Switchblade 600 represents the next generation of extended-range loitering munitions. It can loiter for over 40 minutes and has an anti-armour warhead. Switchblade 600 can be set up and operational in less than 10 minutes. The operator of the system also has the capability to abort the mission at any time and then re-engage new targets.
AeroVironment Inc says its Switchblade 300 Block 20 comes with a new touchscreen Fire Control Unit allowing the operator to train, plan and execute missions with ease. Weighing just four pounds, this miniature, precision-guided lethal missile can be deployed in less than two minutes via tube-launch from land, sea, or mobile platforms, according to the company. Switchblade 300 Block 20 can loiter for more than 20 minutes.
The Canadian government has purchased a variety of new weapon systems for the Latvia mission, although in limited quantities. In February 2024 Blair announced Canada was spending $227.5 million to purchase an air defence capability for Canadian Armed Forces members in Latvia. Canada purchased from Saab Canada Inc. the RBS 70 NG short-range Air Defence System. The capability provides Canadian troops with the ability to defend themselves against fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, Class 1 small Uncrewed Aerial Systems, and larger Uncrewed Aerial Systems.
At the same time the Canadian government announced it was investing $46 million to acquire new counter-drone equipment. TRD Systems of Singapore, CACI Inc., of the United States, and Leonardo UK were awarded contracts for various elements of that project.
The equipment provided troops with improved protection against hostile Class 1 UAS (small drones).
The Canadian government also announced Dec. 15 2023 that it was also buying new anti-tank missiles for its troops in the Baltic country. That purchase was for the Spike LR2 anti-tank system, made by Israeli vendor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The cost was $43 million. There have been reports of problems with the Spike missiles being acquired for Canada.
Blair also announced Feb. 16, 2025 that Canada will deliver two more F-16 flight simulators to Ukraine. Those will come from Canadian industry. This is in addition to the donation of two F-16 simulators that have already been announced by Canada, to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s pilot training and skills maintenance. Blair did not say which companies are providing the simulators or when they will be delivered. The Department of National Defence declined to comment.
Since February 2022 Canada has committed over $19.5 billion in assistance to Ukraine, including $4.5 billion in military assistance. This includes Leopard 2 main battle tanks, armoured combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, small arms and M777 howitzers, along with associated ammunition.
