US Army Vehicles to Deploy Switchblade Munitions With PERCH 2.0 — General Dynamics Land Systems and AeroVironment have developed the PERCH 2.0 launcher to expand the strike options available to the US Army’s M1A2 Abrams tanks and Stryker 8×8 armored vehicles. The system’s name stands for Precision Effects & Reconnaissance, Canister-Housed, and its bolt-on design avoids the need for permanent modifications to the vehicle hull. Using the launcher, crews can fire Switchblade loitering munitions from under the vehicle’s armor, allowing them to deploy the weapons while remaining protected inside. The system is intended to give armored units another means of engaging modern threats.
