Lithuania has received the first batch of AeroVironment Switchblade 600 loitering munitions ordered under a deal worth about €45 million, with the systems arriving in military warehouses on Wednesday, the Ministry of National Defence said. The package includes launch and control equipment, a simulator for operator training and maintenance support, giving the Lithuanian military a broader strike capability package rather than a standalone munition delivery.
Lithuania was the first country after the United States to order the system, with the contract signed in December 2022. The delivery had been expected in 2024 but was only confirmed this month, after the initial schedule slipped by nearly two years.
The Switchblade 600 is designed to engage armoured targets, including tanks, from a safer distance and adds a new precision-strike option for Lithuanian forces. The ministry linked the arrival to stronger deterrence and closer Lithuania–U.S. defence cooperation. It did not disclose how many munitions were delivered or the total number covered by the contract.