The Italian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded AeroVironment a $46.6m contract for the delivery of its JUMP 20 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) medium uncrewed aircraft system (MUAS).
The five-year contract includes the procurement of JUMP 20 air vehicles, engineering services, initial sustainment, and onsite technical support, intended to facilitate quick fielding and operational readiness.
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AeroVironment’s JUMP 20 was selected after a competitive procurement process for its ability to fulfil the Italian MoD’s requirements. The system will replace the existing Shadow UAS fleet with a modern, adaptable solution.
Featuring a payload capacity of 30lb, JUMP 20 is a fixed-wing UAS designed for expeditionary operations, with endurance of more than 13 hours and an operational range of 185km.
Its design allows for easy storage and transport, and it can be autonomously launched and recovered without the need for personnel intervention, which is ideal for dynamic operations.
The JUMP 20 system offers enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, and interoperability with current and future systems.
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By GlobalDataIts Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) facilitates rapid integration, easy upgrades, and adaptability to a variety of mission demands.
AV Medium UAS vice president and general manager Shane Hastings said: “We are honoured to strengthen our partnership with the Italian Ministry of Defence through the delivery of the JUMP 20, a system that enhances their operational capabilities.
“This contract builds on our history of supporting Nato allies with world-class uncrewed systems that reflects our unwavering commitment to innovation and mission success reinforcing our reputation as a trusted partner our customers can rely on.”
Earlier in February, AeroVironment secured a contract with the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) to supply JUMP 20 UASs.
The contract, managed by AeroVironment’s subsidiary Arcturus UAV, has a ceiling value of $181m and will serve the Danish Armed Forces over a ten-year period.
