AV Secures $46.6M Contract with Italian MoD for JUMP 20 VTOL Drones

AeroVironment has secured a $46.6 million contract from the Italian Ministry of Defense for the delivery of the JUMP 20 vertical takeoff 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.

JUMP 20 is a VTOL fixed-wing UAS with a 30-pound payload capacity, over 13 hours of endurance, and a range of 185 km (115 miles). It was selected following a rigorous competition for its ability to meet the Italian MOD’s demanding requirements and to replace the aging Shadow UAS with a modern, adaptable solution.

Shane Hastings, AV’s vice president and general manager of Medium UAS said, “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.”