Recently, Taiwan received its first batch of Altius 600M loitering munitions from Anduril Industries. The order was placed back in 2024, along with a batch of Switchblade 300 UAVs from AeroVironment.
The total contract value for both UAV types amounted to $360 million. For that sum, Taiwan purchased 291 Altius 600M units and 720 Switchblade 300 units, along with 101 launchers. This information comes from Army Recognition.
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Defense Express reminds that the Altius 600M is a loitering munition with a wingspan of 2.5 meters and a weight of 12 kg, of which the warhead accounts for 3 kg. It can loiter in the air for over 4 hours and has a maximum operational range of up to 400 km.
In contrast, the Switchblade 300 is also a loitering munition, but significantly smaller and less powerful. It can cover up to 30 km, stay airborne for up to 20 minutes, and weighs only 2.5 kg, with a warhead roughly equivalent to a 40 mm grenade in explosive power.
Despite its smaller punch, both drones are expected to significantly enhance Taiwan's ability to defend against a potential amphibious assault by China — a threat that is becoming increasingly real. This makes defensive measures more relevant than ever.
The primary means of a Chinese landing on Taiwan would be amphibious transport ships and, more importantly, amphibious assault vehicles. While large landing ships are heavily armored, most other amphibious assets have relatively weak protection — potentially insufficient even against a Switchblade 300, let alone an Altius 600M.
It's also worth noting that Altius 600M drones have previously been used in Ukraine's defense since deliveries began in 2023. The drone's manufacturer, Anduril Industries, has announced plans to build a $1 billion gigafactory for producing drones and cruise missiles.
In addition to the Altius 600M, Anduril also offers the newer Altius 700M, with a strike range of 160 km. It was recently showcased in action, hitting a mock target resembling a russian Buk-M2 air defense system.
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