Lethal Miniature Aerial Munition System (LMAMS) is a program to develop a small surface-to-surface missile based on mini-UAV technology. The program was initiated by the US Special Operations Command but was being managed by the US Air Force's Rapid Acquisition Cell at Eglin AFB. In December 2010, Aer-oVironment, IATech and Textron Defense were awarded small demonstration contracts for their concepts. Trials were conducted in 2011, but plans to initiate the development program in 2012 were delayed. In 2012, the US Army funded the acquisition of 75 AeroVironment Switchblades for operational deployment in Afghanistan, with a reported cost of around $10 million. They were first used operationally in Afghanistan in February 2013. The Army issued another RFI in November 2013 and stated that it expected to make a down-select to two or more competitors in FY16 at which point a more formal program may commence. The Army's FY17 budget includes funding of 645 munitions, 200 training missiles, 48 fire control units, and other support equipment. The FY18 budget request covers additional training missiles, but no further requests for funding beyond FY18. On 3 October the US Army Close Combat Weapons Systems Project Office awarded AeroVironment a contract for Block 10C Switchblade Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile Systems (LMAMS) valued at $22,776,812. The Switchblade has also served as the basis for the Blawing, a small UAS that can be launched from submarines.
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