GAO Denies Mistral’s Protest Against Purchases of AeroVironment Switcblade Loitering Munitions

On September 6, 2024, Mistral filed a protest with U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) challenging the U.S. Army’s sole-source award of a $990 million contract for Switchblade systems.

Yesterday, GAO denied that protest allowing the Army to move forward with the August 27th contract award pursuant to a directed requirement to provide Infantry Battalions with “lethal, man-portable loitering munition systems.”

AeroVironment Inc., Simi Valley, California, was awarded a $990,000,000 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract to provide an organic, stand-off capability to dismounted infantry formations capable of destroying tanks, light armored vehicles, hardened targets, defilade and personnel targets. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 26, 2029. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91CRB-24-D-0011).