10-pound payload drone gets autonomous swarm brain for coordinated strike missions

AeroVironment is adding autonomous swarm capabilities to its Mayhem 10 launched effects system through a new partnership with Applied Intuition, giving the platform software that allows multiple aircraft to coordinate missions under the supervision of a single operator. The integration targets future U.S. Army launched effects requirements, where autonomous systems are expected to extend battlefield reach while reducing the workload on soldiers. Applied Intuition’s Acuity ISR/Strike software will power collaborative behaviors across teams of Mayhem 10 aircraft. Instead of operating independently, the drones can share targeting information, track threats, and coordinate attacks while a human operator remains in control. Swarm software integration The companies recently completed a demonstration of the integrated system, where multiple Mayhem 10 aircraft synchronized their actions and adapted to changing threats during a series of test scenarios. Engineers carried out the integration over several months at multiple locations using AeroVironment’s autonomy interface control document, which is intended to simplify the addition of third-party software. Jason Brown, general manager at Applied Intuition, said modern military operations increasingly depend on autonomous systems that can coordinate in real time without removing people from the decision-making process. “Modern warfare demands trusted systems that can think, coordinate, and adapt faster than the adversary,” Brown said. He added that Acuity ISR/Strike enables collaborative autonomy with operator oversight, allowing drone teams to exchange targeting data and adjust missions as battlefield conditions change. Modular drone platform Although Mayhem 10 traces its roots to AeroVironment’s combat-proven Switchblade family, the company has positioned it as a flexible platform instead of a single-purpose loitering munition. Its open architecture allows operators to change mission payloads without redesigning the aircraft, expanding its role beyond precision strikes. Brian Young, AeroVironment’s senior vice president of loitering munitions, said the platform was built with that flexibility from the beginning. “We built it as an open, modular system from the beginning,” Young said. “That allows us to integrate multiple payloads” and rapidly add third-party autonomy software. He said the company wants to treat new capabilities “more like an application than a fixed feature set.” Built for contested environments Mayhem 10 carries payloads weighing up to 10 pounds, flies more than 62 miles and remains airborne for over 50 minutes. Troops can assemble and launch the aircraft in less than five minutes, allowing units to deploy it quickly during changing battlefield conditions. Operators can equip the platform for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, electronic warfare, communications relay, or precision strikes using the same air vehicle. AeroVironment also designed the system to continue operating in GPS-denied environments while resisting jamming and spoofing attempts. The aircraft follows the Defense Department’s Modular Open Systems Approach, which makes it easier to integrate software and payloads from outside developers without major hardware changes. It also works with AeroVironment’s Tomahawk Grip controller and AV_Halo COMMAND software, giving military units a common interface for planning and executing missions.As militaries invest in larger numbers of autonomous systems, software is becoming as important as the aircraft carrying it. AeroVironment’s latest partnership reflects that shift, focusing on how groups of drones can work together instead of improving the performance of a single platform.Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Aamir is a seasoned tech journalist with experience at Exhibit Magazine, Republic World, and PR Newswire. With a deep love for all things tech and science, he has spent years decoding the latest innovations and exploring how they shape industries, lifestyles, and the future of humanity.