US Army weighs tank-launched loitering munition experiment

Switchblade 600s were selected for the low altitude stalking and strike ordnance (LASSO), which has now been deployed in multiple areas of responsibility for training exercises and other operations. (US Army Training Support Activity Europe)

General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) is negotiating a deal with the US Army to provide an upgraded version of its Precision Effects & Reconnaissance, Canister-Housed (PERCH) for testing in the second half of 2026, an executive told Janes on 2 December.

Engineers will prototype a design that is easier to reload the Switchblade 300 and 600 loitering munitions, Scott Taylor, director of business development at GDLS, told Janes on the sidelines of the Maneuver Warfighter Industry Symposium in Detroit, Michigan, on 2 December. While the first PERCH prototype tested in an October demonstration was funded by industry research dollars, the army is ironing out the parameters of a potential contract for the award.

GDLS has committed to using its internal research funding to modify the prototype but is waiting to see if the army is able to provide a contract through the Transformation in Contact (TiC) initiative. The army has bought hundreds of new systems that are not programmes of record through TiC to enable it to experiment with technology to inform requirements.

If an agreement is reached, the upgraded design of PERCH would be integrated into a main battle tank (MBT) as part of the 1st Cavalry Division, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team's ‘Pegasus Forge' exercise in the later part of 2026, Taylor said.

Design upgrades

The initial design featured one actuator that hinged off the back of a sponson box on the Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 MBT and was controlled through a tablet. The launcher can hold three Switchblade 300s and one 600 at the same time.