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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((TITLE: TV Ukraine US Drones – Shevchenko
HEAD: Can American Switchblades Help Ukraine Win the War?
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 05/17/2023 at 9:30am
BYLINE: Khrystyna Shevchenko
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Los Angeles
VIDEOGRAPHER: Dmytro Savchuk
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Agency video TBD
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs; MAS
PLATFORMS: TV only
TRT: 2:57
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE:
EDS Note: ))
((INTRO:))
[[In late April, a new type of U.S. drone made its appearance on the battlefields of Ukraine. It’s called a switchblade drone, and Khrystyna Shevchenko got a chance to see the drones’ production facility in Los Angeles and has this story.]]
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: AeroVironment))
Switchblades are modern so called “loitering” drones sent by the US to Ukraine to help the war-torn country.
They are produced in California, at a facility owned by AeroVironment, the company that makes these drones.
Two types of loitering drones, the Switchblade 300
((End courtesy))
((Mandatory courtesy: Ukrainian Military YouTube + YouTube Logo))
and the more powerful 600, or so-called Kamikaze drones, were sent to Ukraine beginning in the
((End courtesy))
((Mandatory courtesy: Militarnyi Videonews + YouTube Logo))
Spring of 2022 and reportedly are now on the battlefield.
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The smaller more compact Switchblade 300 is portable and can be easily carried by one fighter.
((John Aldana, Switchblade Program Manager)) ((ENG))
“The switchblade fits in a small tube, and the tube itself weighs about 2.5 kg; the whole thing together is about 5 kg. So,
((Mandatory courtesy: Dvidshub.net))
an individual warrior can carry three of these in the backpack.
((End courtesy))
Setting it up takes about 2 minutes in this little tube…
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: AeroVironment + YouTube Logo))
The upgraded Switchblade 600 drone moves at a speed of up to 185 kilometers an hour.
Once at its destination, it hovers in the air looking for its target and sends hi-definition imagery back to its operator. When the operator finds a target and the fire command is given, these drones fly into the target and detonate.
((NATS)) ((Explosion))
((End courtesy))
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: AeroVironment))
The Switchblade 600 is large and more advanced
((End courtesy))
((Mandatory courtesy: AeroVironment + YouTube Logo))
than its predecessor, the 300. It’s also heavier but still portable. It can stay in the air longer and it is powerful enough to penetrate tank armor.
One of the most unique features of both drones is their ability to hover in the air searching for the best angle before hitting the target.
((End courtesy))
((John Aldana, Switchblade Program Manager)) ((ENG))
“Maybe it's moving; maybe it’s hard to hit. But because this is loitering, because
((Mandatory courtesy: AeroVironment))
it's actually moving around and the operator can wait for the best
((End courtesy))
((Mandatory courtesy: AeroVironment + YouTube Logo))
moment… As soon as there’s a
((End courtesy))
vulnerability, you can take out the target.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: AeroVironment + YouTube Logo))
According to the company, the US has sent over 1000 such drones to Ukraine.
((End courtesy))
Switchblade CEO Wahid Nawabi says his company’s drones show how a relatively cheap, mobile and ‘smart’ weapon
((Mandatory courtesy: Crime and War News + YouTube Logo))
can compete against weapons used by larger armies.
((End courtesy))
((Wahid Nawabi, Switchblade CEO))
“Ukraine war was by far the most incredible example of how a much smaller country or military can fight a superpower. Number one, is the spirit of the people, of course. But number two is the weapons and the assets they have to be able to achieve the mission. I would say that drones and loitering munitions – the kind that we make – has been unbelievably successful, and a paradigm shift!”
((NARRATION))
Nawabi says that technologies like these loitering drones could be a deciding factor in the coming months.
((Khrystyna Shevchenko for VOA News, Los Angeles, California))
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