AeroVironment launches new multifunctional drone variant
AI Analysis
AeroVironment has launched the MAYHEM 10, a multifunctional drone variant of the Switchblade family, capable of reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and strike missions. This new system can be deployed from various platforms and carries a 10-pound payload with a range of over 62 miles.
Key Takeaways
- MAYHEM 10 is a multifunctional drone capable of reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and strike missions.
- The drone can be launched from air, ground, or maritime platforms.
- It has a 10-pound payload capacity and a range of over 62 miles.
- The system offers 50 minutes of endurance and can be launched in under five minutes.
- AeroVironment's Switchblade series, including the 600 and 300 variants, are already in use by the U.S. Army.
Why It Matters
The introduction of the MAYHEM 10 enhances the operational flexibility and capability of military forces by integrating advanced autonomy and multi-domain payloads. This development signifies a strategic shift towards more versatile and adaptable drone systems, crucial for maintaining superiority in contested environments.
AeroVironment is debuting a new drone with the capacity to carry out reconnaissance, electronic warfare and strike missions, building on a lethal loitering system that is already being fielded by the Army, according to a Wednesday announcement.
The defense technology firm introduced the system, known as MAYHEM 10, which expands upon its Switchblade family.
The Army in February announced a $186 million purchase that includes two variants of Switchblade one-way attack, or “kamikaze,” drones: the Switchblade 600 Block 2 variant and the Switchblade 300 Block 20 variant.
The difference is that MAYHEM 10 is multifunctional, meaning it can perform tasks in addition to striking. The new system can carry a 10-pound payload and has a range of over 62 miles, per the release.
The system is capable of 50 minutes of endurance, with a launch assembly that can be done in under five minutes, the statement says. It can also be launched from the air, ground or maritime platforms.
“By integrating advanced autonomy, multi-domain payloads, and rapid adaptability, we empower our forces to sense, disrupt, and strike with precision — even in the most contested environments,” Wahid Nawabi, AeroVironment’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, said in the statement.
Last year, U.S. soldiers tested the Switchblade 600 system, which has a range of 27 miles and is designed to engage a target using onboard cameras.
The Switchblade 300 Block 20, unlike the heavier 600 variant, is small enough to be carried in a backpack. For the first time, according to a February AeroVironment announcement, it will come equipped with an Explosively Formed Penetrator, a deadly warhead that is made to penetrate armored vehicles.
Eve Sampson is a reporter and former Army officer. She has covered conflict across the world, writing for The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Associated Press.