Super-Adaptable Mayhem 10 Swarming Drone Evolved From The Switchblade

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Super-Adaptable Mayhem 10 Swarming Drone Evolved From The Switchblade

AeroVironment's Mayhem 10 is highly-modular and can seek and destroy enemy radars, jam comms, reconnoiter, strike armor and more.

By Thomas Newdick

Published

Apr 16, 2026 5:15 PM EDT

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Key Takeaways

Mayhem 10 is a versatile evolution of Switchblade. AeroVironment’s new drone system offers modular payloads for diverse missions, enhancing adaptability in combat scenarios.

Rapid deployment and reconfiguration capabilities. Mayhem 10 can be assembled and launched in under five minutes, with a range of 62 miles and 50 minutes of flight time.

Designed for collaborative swarm operations. The AV_Halo Command architecture enables Mayhem 10 to operate in swarms, enhancing coverage and coordinated effects.

Advanced autonomy and resilience features. AI-driven processors and secure communication systems ensure functionality in contested environments.

Production readiness and scalability. AeroVironment is prepared to produce up to 2,000 units annually, targeting the U.S. Army’s LE-SR program.

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Bottom line: AeroVironment's Mayhem 10 drone system advances the Switchblade lineage with modularity, rapid deployment, and swarm capabilities, positioning it as a versatile option for the U.S. Army and other customers in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

AeroVironment has unveiled a new entrant in the rapidly evolving launched effects space, introducing the Mayhem 10 system as a further evolution of its combat-proven Switchblade family. While pitching Mayhem 10 toward U.S. Army requirements, the manufacturer anticipates considerable demand and has already started to develop a production line that will be able to push out as many as 2,000 examples of the vehicle annually. The price of a Mayhem 10 has not been disclosed.

Revealed yesterday at the Army Aviation Association of America’s Army Aviation Warfighting Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, the Mayhem 10 is intended to equip air, ground, and maritime platforms and to be capable of being rapidly deployed and reconfigured in the field.

Mayhem 10 Launched Effects | One System. Multiple Effects.

At its core, Mayhem 10 is an autonomous launched effects system with a heavy focus on modularity. Its payload architecture allows operators to swap between lethal and non-lethal configurations depending on mission needs. That includes intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare, communications relay, deception/decoy, and precision strike roles. As such, commanders can rely on a single platform that can pivot as conditions evolve.

According to company leadership, the focus is on compressing the sensor-to-shooter timeline while reducing risk to personnel and high-value assets. “Mayhem 10 sets a new standard for operational versatility and survivability on the modern battlefield,” said Wahid Nawabi, AeroVironment’s chairman, president, and CEO, emphasizing its ability to operate effectively even in heavily contested environments.

A head-on view of the Mayhem 10 at the Army Aviation Association of America’s Army Aviation Warfighting Summit in Nashville, Tennessee. Jamie Hunter

The system draws heavily on the lineage of AeroVironment’s Switchblade family, but is intended to push beyond traditional loitering munitions in terms of scale and flexibility. The Mayhem 10 name reflects the fact that it can carry a payload of up to 10 pounds. It has a range of roughly 62 miles and can remain airborne for up to 50 minutes. Notably, it is designed for rapid deployment, with assembly and launch said to be achievable in under five minutes.

Speaking to TWZ at the summit, Austin Johnson, AeroVironment’s business development director for U.S. Army programs, stressed that, while Mayhem is an evolution of Switchblade, “it’s not a Switchblade.”

A video showing the Switchblade 600 loitering munition being used in combat in Ukraine:

Ukraine’s Best Weapon? The Switchblade 600

“Mayhem is not just leave-the-tube, find-the-armor, kill-the-armor, kill-the-enemy. Mayhem is any mission, anywhere, anytime. So right now, we launch out of a Common Launch Tube. We can air and ground launch,” Johnson added.

A Common...