On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, American company AeroVironment Inc. announced that, under a contractor-owned, contractor-operated (COCO) arrangement, it will provide the U.S. Navy with its latest Jump 20-X vertical takeoff and landing uncrewed aircraft systems for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions during maritime operations.
Photos: AeroVironment Inc.
As part of a recently announced U.S. Navy initiative aimed at expanding and modernizing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance over maritime areas, AeroVironment Inc. will compete for orders alongside other selected industry partners, providing comprehensive and sustained ISR support through autonomous platforms, multi-sensor integration, and specialized reconnaissance expertise.
The Jump 20-X, a Group 3 system under U.S. Department of Defense classification, will provide the U.S. Navy with enhanced ISR capabilities tailored to support a wide range of land and maritime missions. The platform enables multi-domain operations with fully autonomous, hands-off operation, more than 13 hours of endurance, a range of 185 km, and a payload capacity of up to 14.7 kg (30 pounds). With more than 70 different payload options – including ARCAM 45D imaging sensors, long-range EO/MWIR infrared sensors, onboard tracking, stabilization, and video-processing systems, SAR and WAS radars, SIGINT sensors, and electronic warfare systems – the Jump 20-X is highly configurable to meet mission-specific requirements. The system was designed to eliminate the need for cumbersome launch and recovery equipment, simplifying logistics, enabling rapid deployment, and reducing the operational footprint required.
“We are honored to be selected as a partner to help the U.S. Navy expand its ISR services and enhance mission-critical awareness for warfighters around the globe,” said Shane Hastings, Vice President of Medium Uncrewed Systems at AV. “We have the people and product to deliver a superior capability across the fleet and are committed to supporting our customers with a flexible, scalable, full lifecycle ISR solution–any mission, any domain.”
This selection reinforces AeroVironment Inc.’s long-standing commitment to advancing U.S. national security objectives and supporting operational readiness worldwide. The company has successfully provided advanced ISR support services to U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet, the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, and the Republic of Korea Navy.
“This is a win for AV and a win for the US Navy,” said Hastings. “Our technology is deployed, proven, and mature. Our team is ready to deliver. We are reshaping our nation’s ISR capabilities.”
The Jump 20-X is the latest maritime version of the Jump 20 uncrewed aircraft system, equipped with a machine-learning-based control system (artificial intelligence) and SPOTR-Edge automatic target detection and classification technology, enabling precise takeoffs and landings – even on fast-moving surface ships in rough seas or in extreme conditions, day and night. The system made its debut on February 16, 2025, at the IDEX 2025 International Defence Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The Jump 20 has a wingspan of 5.7 m, a length of 2.9 m, and a cruising speed of 107.4 km/h (56 knots). Its maximum takeoff weight is 97.5 kg. It is powered by a 190 cc MOGAS internal combustion engine with electronic fuel injection, which, together with batteries, powers four vertical-lift rotors mounted in underwing nacelles and a single propeller mounted in the nose. Its service ceiling is 5,182 m (17,000 ft).
The Jump 20 was selected in March 2023 for the first phase of the FTUAS (Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System) program, alongside the Aerosonde Mk. 4.8 Hybrid Quad from Textron Systems Corporation (Greece has received approval to purchase the latter). Last year, Italy decided to acquire the Jump 20, and according to the latest media reports, Taiwan is expected to follow soon.
In Poland, the Jump 20, alongside other uncrewed systems from AeroVironment Inc. such as the T-20, Switchblade 600, and Switchblade 300, is offered by Parasnake Arkadiusz Szewczyk of Kielce.
AV has been selected to deliver JUMP 20-X to the @USNavy in support of its initiative to modernize and expand ISR operations.
JUMP 20-X enables multi-domain missions with fully autonomous, hands-free operation and more than 13 hours of flight time, a 115-mile (185 km) range,… pic.twitter.com/TIhz97d1zT
— AV (@aerovironment) April 1, 2026