U.S. Army Buys PERCH 2.0 Launchers to Give M1A2 Abrams Tanks Drone Strike Capability.

The U.S. Army has purchased three PERCH 2.0 loitering-munition launcher prototypes to equip M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks with the Switchblade 300 loitering munition, potentially letting crews conduct aerial reconnaissance and precision attacks beyond their direct line of sight. Developed by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), the upgraded weapon system launches loitering munitions while soldiers remain protected inside their armored vehicles, expanding the Abrams’ ability to detect and engage threats beyond the reach of its conventional direct-fire weapons.

The PERCH loitering-munition launcher gives M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks the potential to deploy Switchblade drones for aerial reconnaissance, target identification and precision strikes beyond direct line of sight, allowing crews to engage concealed threats while remaining protected inside their armored vehicles.

According to information recently disclosed by GDLS (General Dynamics Land Systems) executive Scott Taylor, GDLS plans to deliver four PERCH 2.0 prototypes to the U.S. Army’s 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas, by the end of October 2026. Soldiers will install the launchers on Abrams tanks to test their potential to improve armored-unit situational awareness, precision engagement, and battlefield survivability.

The Army purchased three prototypes through its existing Abrams Systems Technical Support contract, with the acquisition added in August 2026. In a recent interview with Breaking Defense, Scott Taylor, GDLS’s director of U.S. growth, confirmed the purchase and planned deliveries. Although Fort Hood is expected to receive four prototypes, the Army has confirmed only three purchases, and available information does not indicate a separate government acquisition of the fourth unit.

Related Topic: U.S. Army Abrams Tank and Stryker Combat Vehicle Get PERCH 2.0 for Under-Armor Attack Drone Launches

PERCH, formerly known as Precision Effects and Reconnaissance, Canister-Housed, is a modular launcher developed by GDLS in cooperation with AeroVironment. Intended for integration onto M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 main battle tanks and potentially Stryker armored vehicles, the system would give crews an organic way to deploy loitering munitions for surveillance, target identification, and precision engagement.

The PERCH 2.0 configuration incorporates AeroVironment’s Switchblade 300, a lightweight, electrically powered loitering munition designed for tactical reconnaissance and precision attacks against personnel and selected lightly protected targets. Equipped with electro-optical sensors, the munition enables operators to observe a target area before committing to an engagement. Integrating it would let Abrams crews investigate concealed positions or threats masked by terrain without maneuvering the tank into a direct firing position.

Unlike the Abrams’ 120 mm smoothbore cannon, which normally requires a direct firing solution against an identified target, Switchblade 300 can maneuver beyond intervening terrain and provide aerial observation before striking. This capability could be particularly valuable against concealed anti-tank teams and ambush positions that threaten armored formations outside a tank crew’s immediate field of view.

One of PERCH 2.0's principal improvements is the ability to launch loitering munitions without opening vehicle hatches. This feature is intended to protect the crew during launch operations, reducing exposure to small-arms fire, artillery fragments, and other battlefield threats. The revised design also enables easier reloading, increases munition storage capacity, and enhances beyond-line-of-sight functionality, addressing limitations identified in earlier evaluations.

The transition from the initial PERCH configuration to PERCH 2.0 also changes its ammunition arrangement. The earlier design accommodated both Switchblade 300 and the larger Switchblade 600, while the latest prototype focuses on the smaller Switchblade 300 to increase onboard storage capacity. This approach could provide additional engagement opportunities before resupply, though it prioritizes lighter targets over the heavier armored threats associated with Switchblade 600.

The original PERCH launcher emerged from GDLS internal research and development efforts informed by battlefield lessons from Ukraine, feedback from American military commanders in Europe, and discussions with senior leaders of III Armored Corps. The company demonstrated the system during the U.S. Army’s Machine Assisted Rugged Sapper event at Fort Hood in 2025, allowing military personnel to examine loitering-munition integration with existing armored vehicles.

The initial launcher was designed to attach to the Abrams by replacing the loader’s external sponson storage box and using existing mounting points, avoiding major permanent structural modifications. This modular arrangement could let the U.S. Army add new weapons to in-service tanks without redesigning hulls or turrets. The U.S. Army will assess installation requirements for the updated configuration during forthcoming experimentation.

Following the earlier demonstration, U.S. Army feedback identified areas for improvement, including reloading procedures, ammunition storage, and crew exposure during launch operations. GDLS incorporated those requirements into PERCH 2.0 through additional internal development funding. As detailed in the October 9, 2026, Breaking Defense report, the Army's subsequent purchase marks a shift from company-funded demonstrations to direct experimentation with an operational armored formation.

At Fort Hood, soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division are expected to assess PERCH 2.0's performance when installed on Abrams tanks under representative field conditions. Key considerations include ammunition management, drone control integration, and the ability to operate the launcher without interfering with the crew’s primary combat responsibilities. These evaluations will help determine whether the equipment offers practical advantages for armored operations.

The concept nevertheless presents operational limitations. Switchblade 300 cannot replace the Abrams’ 120 mm cannon against heavily armored vehicles, and its effectiveness depends on reliable communications, resistance to electronic warfare, and the availability of replacement munitions during sustained combat. Integrating drone operations into an already demanding tank crew workload will also require careful assessment.

The PERCH 2.0 initiative reflects a broader U.S. Army interest in equipping armored vehicles with organic loitering-munition capabilities. Similar requirements are emerging in the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle program, intended to replace the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. Both American Rheinmetall’s Lynx-based proposal and GDLS’s Wolf design incorporate options for loitering-munition integration, highlighting the growing importance of unmanned reconnaissance and precision engagement in mechanized warfare.

Modular drone launchers could offer a relatively direct route to expanding the capabilities of armored vehicles already in service. Rather than waiting for entirely new combat vehicles, the Army could potentially introduce additional weapons through equipment integrated with existing tank systems, while evaluating how emerging technologies respond to changing battlefield threats.

However, PERCH 2.0 remains an experimental system and has not been fielded across the operational Abrams fleet. Purchasing three prototypes does not constitute a production order or a decision to equip additional armored units beyond the planned Fort Hood experimentation. Broader procurement or deployment would require further technical and operational evaluation.

The Fort Hood trials will therefore help determine whether tank-launched loitering munitions can deliver meaningful tactical advantages without compromising the Abrams’ primary combat role. If PERCH 2.0 demonstrates reliable integration and operational utility, the results could inform future U.S. Army requirements for main battle tanks capable of combining conventional direct firepower with organic unmanned reconnaissance and precision-strike capabilities.

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Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.