The Switchblade 600 drone can hover in the air for over 40 minutes, allowing it to cover 25 miles in stealth, then dash to its target at speeds of up to 115 mph. Photo/AeroVironments
Several media, including Mash and SHOT, reported this on Tuesday (18/4/2023).
“A Switchblade drone, manufactured by the American company AeroVironment, flew into Russian airspace from Ukraine before crashing in Russia’s Belgorod Region, bordering Ukraine,” the report said.
“The UAV fell only about 500 meters from the border between the two countries, without causing any damage or casualties,” the local news agency said.
Neither Mash nor SHOT provided any photos or video of the alleged drone crash site. The Russian military has yet to comment on the incident.
The Switchblade is a miniature kamikaze drone capable of dive bombing. They can weigh up to 15 kilograms and have a length of between 49 and 130 centimeters depending on the modification.
The US has supplied Kiev with around 700 Switchblade drones, as well as 1,800 Phoenix Ghost kamikaze drones.
Russia has repeatedly witnessed Ukrainian drone attacks, especially on its territory bordering Ukraine, amid the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev.
