General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) and AeroVironment (AV) have successfully demonstrated a new capability to turn armored vehicles into mobile launch platforms for loitering munitions. The recent test of the Precision Effects & Reconnaissance, Canister-Housed (PERCH) system showcased its integration on an M1A2 Abrams tank at the U.S. Army’s Machine Assisted Rugged Sapper (MARS) event at Fort Hood, Texas.
The PERCH system is a modular kit designed to seamlessly equip combat vehicles like the Abrams and the Stryker infantry carrier with canisters for AV’s Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 loitering munitions. A key advantage is its non-invasive installation; on the Abrams, for example, it replaces the loader’s sponson box and bolts directly into existing vehicle attachment points, requiring no welding or permanent modification.
During the October demonstration, soldiers used the PERCH-equipped Abrams to launch both a Switchblade 300 and a Switchblade 600 drone. The loitering munitions provided critical beyond-line-of-sight reconnaissance for a complex obstacle breach mission and successfully engaged simulated high-value targets with over-the-horizon precision, all while the launch vehicle remained under cover.
Officials from both companies emphasized the tactical shift this system enables. “PERCH allows units to deploy Switchblade loitering munitions far forward on the battlefield while remaining covered and concealed themselves,” said Jim Pasquarette, vice president of U.S. strategy and business development at GDLS. He noted strong soldier interest in the “readymade, effective concept.”
Brian Young, senior vice president for loitering munitions systems at AeroVironment, highlighted the immediate operational gain. “Integrating Switchblade 300 and 600… delivers immediate operational advantages – extending reach and enabling rapid, precise effects from protected positions,” he stated.
The successful demo underscores a growing trend of integrating unmanned systems with traditional combat platforms to multiply battlefield effectiveness. GDLS and AV plan further demonstrations as they work to mature the system, with future iterations intended to operate through the vehicles’ own onboard computer networks.
