Switchblade replacement: American company presents Red Dragon drone with a flight range of over 400 km

The American company AeroVironment, the developer of the well-known Switchblade drones, has presented a new model of a kamikaze drone called Red Dragon, capable of covering more than 400 km.

Here's What We Know

The Red Dragon is designed to perform strike missions in difficult combat conditions. The drone has a lightweight and portable design that allows it to be quickly deployed in the field. Thanks to its modular system, the UAV can also be adapted to different types of missions by changing sensors and optical components.

The optical unit includes advanced infrared and optical cameras that provide effective tracking and target identification. AeroVironment notes that the development takes into account combat experience in Ukraine, making the Red Dragon versatile for modern military operations.

The drone's characteristics are: length - 2 metres, wingspan - 4 metres, weight - 20 kg. The maximum speed is 160 km/h, the cruising speed is 90 km/h. In autonomous mode, the drone can cover up to 400 km, while the control radius in line of sight is 65 km.

Preparation for launch takes less than 5 minutes, and the launch rate is 4-5 drones per minute, which increases its efficiency on the battlefield.

Source: AeroVironment