Air system · Group 3 VTOL UAS

JUMP 20-X

Persistent ISR / Maritime Operations / Communications Relay

Also known as: JUMP 20X / AV JUMP 20-X / AeroVironment JUMP 20-X

JUMP 20-X overview

JUMP 20-X is AeroVironment's next-generation Group 3 vertical-takeoff UAS for persistent operations from land and ships. It requires no runway or separate launch and recovery equipment, and its multi-fuel propulsion system supports more than 13 hours of endurance. AeroVironment states range up to 185 km and payload capacity up to 30 lb for electro-optical, radar, communications-relay, signals-intelligence, and other mission packages.

The company unveiled JUMP 20-X at IDEX in February 2025 with emphasis on maritime autonomy and modularity. In April 2026 it was selected for delivery to the U.S. Navy, providing the program's clearest procurement milestone.

Some dimensions remain unpublished or are inferred from the earlier JUMP 20 family, so this profile separates confirmed X-model performance claims from family-level geometry. The Navy selection also makes shipboard launch, recovery, and mission integration important next steps beyond the aircraft's headline endurance.

Armament

Primarily ISR; modular payload bay can support mission-specific effects

Development and operational timeline

  1. AeroVironment unveils JUMP 20-X at IDEX as a modular land-and-maritime Group 3 VTOL UAS
  2. The company publishes 13+ hour endurance, 185 km range, and 30 lb payload capacity
  3. AeroVironment is selected to provide JUMP 20-X aircraft to the U.S. Navy
  4. The platform transitions from product launch toward Navy delivery and integration