JUMP 20 VTOL UAV selected for USSOCOM Mid-Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems program.

AeroVironment, Inc.,  a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems,  announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Arcturus UAV, now operating under the AeroVironment brand, was awarded a competitive task order valued at approximately $7 million from the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The competitive task order is for a one-year period of performance, which started February 3, 2021.

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JUMP 20 (Picture source: AeroVironment)

USSOCOM selected Arcturus UAV as one of six companies qualified for the potential $975 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) MEUAS (Mid-Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems) contract in June 2020. The contract enables awardees to compete for site-specific task orders and provide USSOCOM with unmanned aircraft systems services and support for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations.

“Part of AeroVironment’s expanded portfolio of medium UAS, the fixed wing JUMP 20 is capable of vertical takeoff and landing, making it completely runway independent,” said Rick Pedigo, AeroVironment vice president of global sales and business development. “Runway independence maximizes the ability of customers to deploy the JUMP 20 in a broad range of locations and environments, while minimizing the logistical footprint required to operate it. JUMP 20 is also capable of hosting multiple different payload options, delivering true versatility and multi-mission capabilities to support a wide array of customer requirements.”

AeroVironment recently successfully demonstrated the JUMP 20 for the U.S. Army Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) “Rodeo”, which took place from February 22 through March 5 at Fort Benning, Georgia.

AeroVironment previously announced the closing of the Arcturus UAV acquisition in a press release on February.

JUMP 20 is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) variant of the T-20, fixed-wing, tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which is designed and manufactured primarily for the US Navy by Arcturus UAV, a company based in the US.

The UAV is intended for use by the naval forces for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and search-and-rescue missions.