AeroVironment has announced it has actually been awarded a $46.6 M contract by the Italian Ministry of Defence for the delivery of its JUMP 20 vertical launch and landing (VTOL) medium uncrewed airplane system (MUAS).
The five-year agreement includes the procurement of JUMP 20 air lorries, engineering services, preliminary sustainment and onsite technical assistance ensuring rapid fielding and functional preparedness from day one.This agreement constructs on our history of supporting NATO allies with first-rate uncrewed systems that shows our unwavering commitment to innovation and objective success reinforcing our credibility as a trusted partner our customers can rely on.JUMP 20 is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), fixed-wing UAS with 30 pounds of payload capacity, 13+ hours of endurance and a functional range of 185 km (115 mi).
Purpose-built for expeditionary operations, the system can be kept and transported with ease and autonomously launched and recuperated without personnel intervention, making it ideal for dynamic on-the-move operations.The selection follows a strenuous and highly competitive procurement process, where JUMP 20 distinguished itself for its capability to meet the Italian MODs strict technical and operational requirements while replacing their existing Shadow UAS fleet with a contemporary, versatile solution.We are honoured to strengthen our partnership with the Italian Ministry of Defence through the delivery of the JUMP 20, a system that boosts their operational abilities, said Shane Hastings, AVs vice president and basic supervisor of Medium UAS.
This contract builds on our history of supporting NATO allies with first-rate uncrewed systems that shows our steady dedication to innovation and mission success reinforcing our credibility as a trusted partner our customers can rely on.The JUMP 20 delivers advanced intelligence, security, and reconnaissance (ISR) abilities with multi-payload flexibility and seamless interoperability throughout current and future systems.
Constructed on a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), the platform makes it possible for quick combination, simple upgrades, and unrivaled versatility to support a wide range of evolving mission demands.Source: AeroVironment