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AUSA 25 – AeroVironment Switchblade 400

Friday, October 17th, 2025

Released during the 2025 AUSA meeting, the new Switchblade 400 is a medium-range, man-portable anti-armor loitering munition with rocket-assisted take-off (RATO). At under 40 pounds for the all-up round (AUR), the effector provides lethal standoff capability in under five minutes to defeat tanks and heavily armored targets with precision accuracy.

With 35 minutes of endurance, Switchblade 400 enables rapid target acquisition and high-confidence strikes against both fixed and moving threats.

Sized to fit in common launch tubes (CLT), the unit’s design streamlines training and enables rapid, plug-and-play integration. Its advanced pan-tilt EO/IR optic suite with hybrid Aided Target Recognition (AiTR) delivers reliable target recognition at 5.5 km in EO and 1.4 km in IR and advanced edge computing provide autonomous detection, classification, and elimination of threats, day or night.

Driven by AV_Halo Vision (previously AV’s SPOTR-Edge software) which is part of AV’S unified suite of mission-ready software tools. These platforms provide onboard computer vision for detection, classification, localization, and tracking of operationally relevant objects, including people, vehicles, and maritime vessels, day or night, even in GPS-denied or comms-degraded environments.

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AUSA 25 – FANG F7 by Red Cat

Friday, October 17th, 2025

As soon as I read about Red Cat’s new FANG FPV drone and sure enough, it fits right in what what I refer to as the “155 shell of the future” an attritable FPV drone made with NDAA compliant components that comes in under $3000.

Featuring a 7″ carbon fiber frame and Integrated HD FPV Camera w/ Low-latency Transmission along with UMAC NDAA-compliant Motors and a 6S Li-Ion Battery it can recovered for continued system training.

During a drone racing competition earlier this month in North Carolina, the FANG came in first place so we know it has the speed and agility we are looking for.

Sales are restricted to government customers and systems will be sold as kits which include several FANGs and a controller at a great price.

Above you can see the FANG next to the Black Widow to give you an idea of the size difference between the two.

redcat.red/fang

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AUSA 25 – FN Multi-Purpose Tactical Launcher 30mm (MTL-30)

Friday, October 17th, 2025

I got some hands on time with an example of FN America‘s new Multi-purpose Tactical Launcher 30mm (MTL-30), one of several designs vying to become the US Army’s Precision Grenadier System, a semi-auto, box magazine fed grenade launcher with programmable bursting munitions.

The Army’s requirement was caliber agnostic and FN engineers chose 30mm as their “Goldilocks” caliber to achieve the desired effects. The medium velocity rounds produce 45 ft lbs of recoil and shoot pretty flat. With under 3 seconds time of flight to 300 meters, the max elevation for the ammunition is 11m out to 500m.

It features a detachable box magazine with 3- or 5-round capacity. At just 35 inches in length and 8.5 inches tall, the weapon weighs just over 10 lbs. The bolt catch, magazine release and safety selector are all ambidextrous, plus there is an M4-style telescoping buttstock with a modular cheek riser. The modular rail system has a contiguous top rail for mounting of visual augmentation systems (VAS) and other devices, plus side M-LOK slots with a MIL-STD Picatinny rail.

Ammunition is from Nostromo LLC and includes High Explosive Air Burst, Counter-UAS, and Training rounds.

Finally, mag pouches have been developed.

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AUSA 25 – SIG SAUER Introduces New Robotic Solutions

Friday, October 17th, 2025

Over the past few AUSA meetings SIG SAUER has incrementally introduced new robotic solutions such as the Pitbull Remote Weapon Station and small arms integration into aerial drones.

This year they exhibited a scaled down version of their RWS mounted to an IAI Fire Storm APUS 60 quadcopter which was developed specifically for this application. It is fuel powered and offers 3 hours of endurance.

The RWS features an LMG and 200 rounds of 7.62 NATO ammunition for a total weight of 24 kg.

It uses the same tech as the ground based RWS but scaled down for aviation use. Consequently, it is purpose built for use with the LMG and is not modular, or meant to accept a variety of weapons.

It will traverse 30 deg left and right and depress -45 deg. That combined with the maneuverability of the drone will ensure target acquisition, PID, and engagement via the controller.

Additionally, they showed the Pitbull RWS mounted to a Deka Sentry Security Platform. This all-terrain, wheeled, multi-mission robot is offered in 3 models with this being the Monster Bot.

It is adapted from a carriage for individuals with mobility challenges and is gyrostabilized to offer a solid, upright platform for any application including ISR and weapon employment. For example, it keeps the payload level even when negotiating stairs.

While the weapon station relies on SIG’s controller, the platform itself can be autonomous, negotiating terrain on its own with little to no human input other than waypoints.

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AUSA 25 – Norotos Universal Bridge Adapter

Friday, October 17th, 2025

Norotos shows us their brand new Universal Bridge Adapter, a modular NVG mount which will accept a variety of night vision and thermal systems, both monocular and binocular.

When used in conjunction with their machined J-Arm you can mount one or two AN/PVS-14s.

Likewise, you can mount any device with a dovetail shoe. As the shoe receivers can be moved along the bridge to set the proper interpupillary distance, you can also set a single shoe receiver in the center for use with binocular devices.

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AUSA 25 – SURF from SAFRAN DSI

Thursday, October 16th, 2025

Over the years Safran’s Pocket Laser Rangefinder (PLRF) line has become the standard light rangefinder for snipers, JTACs, and Forward Observers.

In order to continue providing the best capabilities to their customers they have introduced the Small Ultralight Range Finder (SURF) which was developed by Safran DSI in the USA and is an ITAR product.

SURF is 20% smaller and lighter than PLRF25C and is distinguished by its vertical orientation and ergonomics. In addition, it uses the Safran Vectronix 3019 rangefinder for increased performance out to 8000 meters. Simple to use, SURF can connect to multiple Bluetooth devices such as Kestral and ATAK.

SURF is fully qualified, in full-rate production, and available for order with deliver this year.

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AUSA 25 – GORE-TEX Introduces Improved Army Wet Weather Boot by McRae Footwear

Thursday, October 16th, 2025

GORE-TEX brand displayed their candidate for an Improved Army Temperate Wet Weather Boot.

This boot is commercially available from McRae Footwear and is a GORE-TEX lined variant of their popular modern jungle boot called the Terrassault (T2) Ultra Light Hot Weather Combat Boot. The addition of the GORE-TEX lining makes them suitable for temperate climates where Soldiers often face cold wet conditions such as in Central Europe and across the much of North America.

The boot is 40% lighter, 25% more breathable, and not to mention more flexible, than the Temperate Combat Boot which was removed from the clothing bag. Currently, Soldiers receive two pairs of Hot Weather Boots. One of these could be swapped out for the Improved Army Temperate Wet Weather Boot to offer Soldiers better foot protection in wet environments.

Wear testers said it was more comfortable and lighter than the temperate combat boot as well as offering an athletic fit.

Below is a chart that compares the current Army Temperate Weather Boot with this proposed replacement and the Army Hot Weather Boot.

Posted in Advertiser, AUSA, Boots | 1 Comment »

AUSA 25 – CODiAQ by Skyborne Technologies

Thursday, October 16th, 2025

Every year the Australian pavilion at AUSA’s annual meeting gets larger and this year it was packed with both companies and victor’s checking out their wares.

Our friends at Ghost Robotics told us to check out a project they were working on with Skyborne Technologies called Controller Operated Direct Action Quadruped or CODiAQ.

Mounted in a roll cage to Ghost’s Vision-60 Quadraped Unmanned Ground Vehicle, this lethal direct-fire and ballistic breaching robot boasts the HAVOC 40mm Weapon Payload which is a rotary launcher with five tubes. Alternatively there is the CHAOS 12 ga payload, a 10 rotating cylinder weapon.

This sits atop the Targeting Electronics &Optics Box (TEOB) and utilizes a Silvus Streamcaster MANET Radio. The TEOB is powered by Skyborne’s Targeting Software which provides AI assisted target recognition, ballistic computation, and platform control via a single RF link and control station (GCS).

The system weighs 66 kg / 145 lbs and can be mounted to the Vision-60 in 10 minutes with weapon swap-out or reload in just 90 seconds.

The program is sponsored by ASD/SOLIC’s Capability Development and Innovation office.

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