Image source: topwar.ru
After the start of the special operation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, the commands of Western countries draw conclusions from the course of the military campaign and try to adapt to the new conditions of combat.
Paris is showing high activity in this direction. The Ministry of Defense is implementing a project on Larinae and Colibri kamikaze drones developed in France, and at the same time is negotiating with the American company Aero Vironment on the acquisition of 82 Switchblade 300 drones of the same type.
- noted in the publication Air&Cosmos.
It is assumed that the supply of the Switchblade 300 can be a temporary solution until its own UAVs are ready. At the same time, the local Colibri product will have both advantages and disadvantages compared to its American counterpart: the range of the Colibri should be 5 km (Switchblade has 10 km), the flight time is 30 minutes (instead of 15 minutes), the cost is 20 thousand euros (Switchblade is estimated at 5.6 thousand euros).
Image source: topwar.ru
- indicated in the publication.
As explained, several videos recorded the use of a Switchblade 300 UAV, but without visual confirmation of the defeat of targets. At the same time, on May 6, the Russian military published the remains of this drone shot down in the vicinity of Kharkov. There was also evidence of these drones falling into the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation as trophies.