Kamikaze pilots or pilots on a suicide mission, first came to light during World War II. Now men need no longer give up their lives in a war in such fashion as new drones are being developed with suicide mission capabilities.

According to reports, part missile, part intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tool, the new drone locks on its enemy target and crashes into it, delivering a lethal attack.

The drone’s maker, AeroVironment, is calling it the Switchblade. The Army awarded the company a contract worth almost $5 million for the system.

AeroVironment announced that it received a contract from the US Army Close Combat Weapons Systems (CCWS), Program Executive Office Missiles and Space (PEO MS). The $4.9 million contract for the Switchblade agile munition includes engineering services and operational systems for deployment with the US Army.

This award represents the culmination of years of development, testing, demonstrations and customer evaluations. The prototype Switchblade system previously received safety confirmation and underwent military utility assessment with the US Army in the fall of 2010. The award is for rapid fielding of this capability to deployed combat forces.

The Switchblade air vehicle launches from a small tube that can be carried in a backpack and transmits live colour video wirelessly for display on AeroVironment’s standard small unmanned aircraft system (UAS) ground control unit. Upon confirming the target using the live video feed, the operator then sends a command to the air vehicle to arm it and lock its trajectory onto the target. Flying quietly at high speed the Switchblade delivers its onboard explosive payload with precision while minimising collateral damage. With the ability to call off a strike even after the air vehicle is armed, Switchblade provides a level of control not available in other weapon systems.

“The unique capabilities provided by the Switchblade agile munition for standoff engagement, accuracy and controlled effects make it an ideal weapon for today’s fight and for US military forces of the future,” said Bill Nichols, Deputy Product Director at the Army’s Close Combat Weapons Systems project office.

Instead of requiring support from weapon systems controlled by other operating units, operators will be able to use the ground launched Switchblade variant to respond to enemy combatants with precision fire from a significant standoff distance, when and where required.

“Our dedicated team developed this breakthrough solution with a focus on satisfying important customer needs,” said Tom Herring, AeroVironment Senior Vice President and General Manager of Unmanned Aircraft Systems. “Just as our small unmanned aircraft systems provide game-changing reconnaissance capabilities to ground forces, Switchblade provides a revolutionary rapid strike capability to protect our troops and give them a valuable new advantage on the battlefield.”

“The Switchblade is designed to provide the warfighter with a ‘magic bullet’.”

While it is in flight, the drone’s operator can view the video it transmits at a ground control unit. The operator can identify and lock on a target, and then command the drone to crash. Even after arming the drone, AeroVironment said, the operator can call off the strike, which provides troops with “a level of control not available in other weapon systems”.

Billed as a “powerful but expendable” device, the Switchblade is a major change from the larger multimillion-dollar armed drones the military uses, like the Predator and Reaper. Those drone systems, which consist of four drones each, cost $20 million and $53.5 million respectively.