The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $80.1 million sale of Switchblade 300 Block 20 "kamikaze" drone systems to Greece, according to Reuters, advancing a deal first cleared by Greece's Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA) two years ago as part of efforts to strengthen the country's armed forces.
The proposed Foreign Military Sale includes 350 Switchblade 300 Block 20 Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile Systems and 35 associated Fire Control Systems, along with a smaller number of the larger Switchblade 600 systems, battery chargers, spare parts, training and technical support services.
The principal contractor will be AeroVironment, based in Simi Valley, California.
The State Department said the sale would support U.S. foreign policy and national security interests by improving the security of a NATO ally that continues to serve as a force for political and economic stability in Europe.
The department said the sale would enhance Greece's ability to deter existing and future threats, support coalition operations and improve interoperability with U.S. forces, adding that Greece would have no difficulty absorbing the equipment into its armed forces and that the sale would not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The Switchblade 300 is a lightweight, backpack-portable, single-use drone designed for strikes against personnel and light vehicles, capable of speeds around 100 km/h with up to 15 minutes of flight time.
The larger Switchblade 600 is designed to defeat armored targets such as tanks, with a range of roughly 40 kilometers.
Both systems allow operators to abort or redirect a strike in flight to reduce the risk to civilians or nearby infrastructure.
The sale does not require additional U.S. government or contractor personnel to be deployed to Greece.