General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), in partnership with AeroVironment (AV), has successfully demonstrated a new capability that transforms main battle tanks into mobile launch platforms for loitering munitions. The demonstration of the Precision Effects & Reconnaissance, Canister-Housed (PERCH) modular kit took place during the U.S. Army’s Machine Assisted Rugged Sapper (MARS) event at Fort Hood, Texas.
The PERCH system is designed to integrate AeroVironment’s proven Switchblade 300 and larger Switchblade 600 loitering munitions directly onto armored vehicles, starting with the M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tank and the Stryker combat vehicle. The kit provides these platforms with a potent beyond-line-of-sight reconnaissance and strike capability, allowing crews to engage distant, high-value targets while remaining under armor protection.
A key feature of PERCH is its non-invasive installation. On the Abrams tank, for example, it requires no welding or cutting. The system replaces the loader’s existing sponson box and is bolted directly into the vehicle’s pre-existing attachment points. Future integration plans call for the system to operate through the vehicles’ own onboard computer networks.
During the late October demonstration, soldiers utilized the PERCH-equipped Abrams to support a complex obstacle breach scenario. Operators launched both a Switchblade 300 and a Switchblade 600 from the tank to conduct over-the-horizon surveillance and successfully engage simulated targets, showcasing the tactical advantage of deploying these effects from a forward, protected position.
“PERCH allows units to deploy Switchblade loitering munitions far forward on the battlefield while remaining covered and concealed themselves,” said Jim Pasquarette, GDLS Vice President for U.S. Strategy and Business Development. He noted strong soldier interest in the “readymade, effective concept.”
Brian Young, AeroVironment’s Senior Vice President for Loitering Munition Systems, emphasized the operational payoff. “Integrating Switchblade 300 and 600 into GDLS platforms through PERCH delivers immediate advantages – extending reach and enabling rapid, precise effects from protected positions,” he stated.
The successful demo marks a step toward converged capabilities on the modern battlefield, pairing heavy armor with agile, precision loitering munitions through a partnership aimed at delivering what both companies call “field-ready solutions to warfighters.”
