Biden Administration May Provide Deadly 'Switchblade' Drones To Ukraine To Destroy Russian Tanks

Ukraine will reportedly get US-made deadly drones, Switchblades, from the Biden administration.

The cutting-edge guided missiles that could accurately target Russian troops and destroy their tanks from miles away are part of a military aid package announced Wednesday, two congressional officials told NBC News.

In a fact sheet on the aid package, the White House referred to the weapons as “100 Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems.” The killer drones are described as robotic smart bombs. In addition to cameras, they have guidance systems and explosives that can automatically strike a target from miles away.

Switchblade 300 and the 600 are the two variants of the weapon that have been sold to US Special Operations Command by AeroVironment, a manufacturer which is based in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. While the 600 is meant to destroy tanks and other armored vehicles, the 300 is designed for pinpoint strikes on personnel. There is no clarity on which variant would be provided to Ukraine.

AeroVironment "stands with the people of Ukraine and all of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).” It said in a statement that the company stands "with our allies and sovereign nations in their right to protect their homelands and their very lives when this fundamental right is threatened."

If the deadly Switchblade is used in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, it would be the most significant use of the weapon in combat till now. UK is the only foreign nation that so far has been authorized to purchase the killer weapon.

According to Daily Star, a recent military package wish list from Ukraine also showed requests for Javelin anti-tank weapons and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.

Daily Mail reported that the Biden administration has already sent five Mi-17 helicopters to Ukraine. The list of arms shipments to Ukraine also includes 70 Humvees with 40 million rounds of ammunition and more than 2000 Javelin anti-tank missiles. Unveiling a further package to help Ukraine on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden said that his administration is "going to give Ukraine the arms to fight and defend themselves through all the difficult days ahead." The package also includes 9,000 anti-armor systems and 7,000 small arms.

Biden also condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, and declared the Russian leader to be a "war criminal."