American defense firm Mistral Inc. has filed a petition to reconsider the US Army’s nearly $1-billion contract with AeroVironment for Switchblade loitering munitions.
The deal in question is the $990-million contract awarded to AeroVironment on August 27 for an “organic, stand-off solution” capable of neutralizing hostile tanks, armored vehicles, and personnel targets.
Although the grounds for the petition have not yet been disclosed, the protest will halt production of the loitering munitions while the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviews the case.
An official decision is expected to be made within 100 calendar days as required by law.
If successful, Mistral’s protest could force the US Army to re-open a competition.
The Agreement
On August 28, AeroVironment confirmed it had entered a five-year agreement with the US Army to support its Lethal Unmanned Systems (LUS) requirement by supplying an undisclosed number of Switchblade attack drones.
The systems will be used by dismounted infantry formations to defend against the threats of enemy armored assets.
The company stated that its Switchblade munitions will enhance soldier lethality and give operators the ability to track and engage moving, non-line-of-sight targets.
“AV (AeroVironment) is proud to have been selected to provide Switchblade for this critical and urgent army requirement,” Senior VP Brett Hush noted.
Deliveries of the Switchblade systems were originally scheduled to begin in months, but the protest may delay them until next year.
‘Well Positioned’
The Switchblade is a tube-launched, precision-guided munition that is flown like a drone and detonates upon contact with the target.
It can stay airborne for up to 20 minutes to monitor the surroundings and search for a target.
Prior to Mistral’s protest, AeroVironment said that its Switchblade munitions offer “unmatched maturity and effectiveness” for various missions.
Additionally, the company affirmed it is well positioned to meet the army’s emerging needs by leveraging robust production capability and supply chain capacity.
“This contract further solidifies AV’s role as a leading provider of innovative unmanned solutions,” AeroVironment noted. “The company remains committed to supporting US Army missions by delivering advanced technology that ensures operational superiority”