# AeroVironment and NIOA team to distribute and support Switchblade in Australia NIOA's Australian Missile Corporation is an enterprise partner in Australia's effort to build a sovereign guided weapons manufacturing industry. NIOA's release names no new order. Published 2026-10-09 by TGOs. Canonical: https://tgos.io/news/2026/10/09/aerovironment-and-nioa-team-to-distribute-and-support-switchblade/ AeroVironment has made NIOA its local partner for the Switchblade family of loitering munitions and the rest of its portfolio, covering distribution, customer engagement, support and long-term capability development. The partnership is meant to support the introduction into service, sustainment and growth of loitering munitions across Australia and New Zealand. The companies signed it at the Land Forces exposition in Perth.[1] The customer is already there. Australia announced in July 2024 that its soldiers would be equipped with the Switchblade 300. Defence expected to introduce it into service in 2025.[3] Ben James, NIOA's executive vice president for Australia and New Zealand, said Australia's Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Plan "identified the acquisition and introduction into service of Switchblade as a key objective."[1] Breaking Defense reported that Australia plans to set aside A$26 billion to A$36 billion for the GWEO effort, though the 2026 National Defence Strategy gives few details on where that money will go.[4] NIOA's release names no new contract, order, quantity or value for the partnership.[1] The family-owned group calls itself the largest privately owned supplier of munitions to Australian and New Zealand defence, law enforcement and commercial markets.[2] Its Australian Missile Corporation was selected as an enterprise partner to help the government establish a sovereign guided weapons manufacturing industry.[2] Industrial work is an option the companies have left open. They will "explore opportunities to expand support and industrial capability in Australia."[1] ## Why it matters One sign of business would be an Australian Defence contract naming NIOA for Switchblade support or sustainment.[1] Any decision by the companies on industrial work in Australia would show whether the partnership reaches past distribution and support.[1] ## Sources 1. NIOA: NIOA and AeroVironment partner up to advance Australian loitering munitions capability 2. NIOA: About 3. Australian Minister for Defence Industry: Australian Government announces acquisition of precision loitering munition (July 8, 2024) 4. Breaking Defense: Australia's guided weapons and munitions effort makes progress, but risks remain (Oct. 6, 2026)