A critical technological milestone in unmanned combat systems has been reached with the first-ever air launch of a Switchblade 600 loitering munition from a General Atomics MQ-9A Block 5 unmanned aerial system. Conducted between July 22 and 24 at the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground, the test validates a new operational capability that transforms the MQ-9A from a traditional remotely piloted strike asset into a networked, long-range launch platform for precision loitering weapons. The demonstration marks a decisive step in the U.S. military’s shift toward modular, risk-tolerant, and distributed lethality across contested theaters. Read full Defense Aerospace News at this link ...
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| A U.S. GA-ASI MQ-9A unmanned aerial system conducts the first-ever in-flight launch of a Switchblade 600 loitering munition during U.S. Army testing at Yuma Proving Ground, July 2025. This historic integration expands the MQ-9A’s role as a long-range precision strike platform capable of deploying loitering munitions deep into contested battlespace. (Picture source: GA-ASI) |
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