US-Made Switchblade Loitering Munition Crashes Near Zaporozhye Nuclear Plant (Photos)

Zaporozhie NPP

On September 2, a US-made AeroVironment Switchblade 300 loitering munition crashed near the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (NPP) which is held by the Russian military.

The loitering munition was apparently launched by Kiev forces during their last failed attack on the NPP. The munition may have been downed by the Russian military using electronic warfare means. It appeared to be intact in photos that surfaced online on September 3.

The failed attack on the NPP involved two groups of a total of 42 cutters and motor boats with over 250 service members from Ukraine’s special operation forces and foreign mercenaries. The attack was repelled by Russian fighter jets and attack helicopters. Kiev forces sustained heavy human and material losses.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

The Switchblade 300 was designed to target personnel and unarmored vehicles. It has a range of ten kilometers and an endurance of ten minutes. AeroVironment developed a larger loitering munition, the Switchblade 600, to destroy armored vehicles, like battle tanks. This version has a range of 80 kilometers and an endurance of up to 20 minutes. Both the Switchblade 300 and 600 are equipped with optical guidance systems.

The US pledged to supply Kiev forces with more than 100 Switchblade 300 and 600 systems following the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.

Kiev forces ramped up their attacks on the nuclear plant after the arrival of the International Atomic Energy Agency mission. Most of the recent attacks were carried out with NATO-supplied weapons.

The repeated attacks on Zaporozhye NPP are apparently a part of a plot meant to pressure Russia into handing the plant back to Ukrainian authorities.

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