Mayhem 10 drones demonstrate coordinated swarm operations for first time

AeroVironment and Applied Intuition have demonstrated software that allows swarms of AeroVironment’s Mayhem 10 uncrewed aircraft to coordinate their actions under the supervision of a single operator. 

The companies announced a strategic teaming agreement on July 29, 2026, to integrate Applied Intuition’s Acuity ISR/Strike autonomy software with AeroVironment’s Mayhem 10 launched-effects system. 

The combination is designed to allow multiple Mayhem 10 aircraft to share targeting information, adjust their actions as threats change and work together to find, track and engage targets. 

AeroVironment said the companies recently completed a demonstration in which several Mayhem 10 systems synchronized their movements, operated as a swarm and adapted to different threats. 

The demonstration followed several months of integration work conducted at multiple locations. 

AeroVironment said a single operator would supervise the aircraft rather than directly control each vehicle throughout the mission. 

The companies described the capability as supporting collaborative “hunter-killer” operations. The Mayhem 10 can carry lethal or non-lethal payloads depending on the mission. 

“Modern warfare demands trusted systems that can think, coordinate and adapt faster than the adversary,” Applied Intuition General Manager Jason Brown said. 

The work supports the US Army’s Launched Effects program, which seeks small uncrewed aircraft that can deploy from crewed or uncrewed platforms to extend surveillance, targeting, electronic warfare and strike capabilities. 

AeroVironment introduced the Mayhem 10 in April 2026 as a modular aircraft capable of launching from air, ground and maritime platforms. 

The aircraft can carry up to 10 pounds of mission equipment and operate at ranges exceeding 100 kilometers, or about 62 miles. AeroVironment lists an endurance of more than 50 minutes, a cruise speed of 80 mph and a dash speed of 120 mph. 

Crews can assemble and launch the aircraft in less than five minutes, according to the company. 

Its interchangeable payload section can support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment, electronic warfare systems, communications relays, decoys or precision-strike weapons. 

“Mayhem 10 isn’t just a munition. It’s an architecture,” AeroVironment Senior Vice President of Loitering Munitions Brian Young said. 

AeroVironment designed the aircraft around an open architecture that allows outside companies to add software and payloads without redesigning the entire system. 

The company said the Mayhem 10 can operate in areas affected by GPS jamming, spoofing and degraded communications, although those performance claims have not been independently verified under operational conditions. 

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