Reuters: Greece plans to buy Switchblade drones from the US

Greece plans to purchase Switchblade drones from the United States to further strengthen its armed forces.

This was reported to Reuters by two informed interlocutors.

The agency noted that Athens has developed a multibillion-dollar 10-year procurement plan that includes the purchase of up to 40 new F-35 fighters from the United States and three frigates from France.

The Switchblade, manufactured by AeroVironment, Inc. has attracted attention because the Ukrainian military is using them to strike Russian troops.

An informed official told the agency that Greece has chosen the American type of Switchblade. However, he did not specify how many units Athens would purchase.

Another source said that the cost would be 75.2 million euros, and he also emphasized that the chiefs of staff had approved two types of Switchblade with a range of up to 20 km and up to 40 km.

Athens is also planning to produce its own drones and drone countermeasures, the journalists added.

Switchblade is a tactical strike disposable unmanned aircraft system created by the American company AeroVironment. The complex is small enough to be carried in a backpack and can be launched from various land, sea and air platforms.

As you know, the peculiarity of this kamikaze drone is that it can stay in the air for some time in standby mode near the target and attack it after a command from the operator. American drones are relatively inexpensive, but due to their small size, high speed, and silent flight, they are not very vulnerable.

Author - Dmitriy Levchenko, 18/09/2024