US Approves Sale of 350 Switchblade 300 Loitering Munitions to Greece
The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of Switchblade 300 Block 20 loitering munitions to Greece. According to a 17 July notice from the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, the package covers 350 Switchblade 300 Block 20 units and 35 fire-control systems, with a total value of up to $80.1 million. The approval is the first formal step in the FMS process; final quantities and price may change during contract negotiations.
What the system does
The Switchblade 300 is a backpackable, tube-launched loitering munition. It can stay airborne over a target area, stream real-time video to the operator, and dive onto the target on command. It sits between a conventional unmanned aircraft and a guided missile, giving infantry-level units a low-cost precision-strike option operated by a single soldier.
The Block 20 variant is reported to add hardened anti-jam GPS and improved fire control. Combat experience in Ukraine has driven demand for munitions resilient to enemy electronic warfare. The prime contractor is AeroVironment, which also runs the US Army’s layered counter-drone program.
Delivery timeline
Greek reporting points to a first batch arriving by late 2026, roughly two years ahead of the original schedule. The accelerated request reflects rapidly rising European demand for short-range precision effects, as loitering munitions increasingly complement both artillery and anti-armour roles in Western forces.
Why it matters
The sale carries weight for the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean balance. Adding 350 loitering munitions to Greece’s inventory in the near term bears directly on the threat calculus of land and coastal units in the region. Turkey fields its own indigenous loitering munitions such as KARGU and ALPAGU, so the regional capability balance is not one-sided. Still, a NATO member fielding a US system on an accelerated timeline underscores how much procurement speed now weighs in deterrence.
Sources
- US State Department, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs — Greece, Switchblade 300 Block 20 (17 July 2026)
- Defence Industry Europe
