The American defense company AeroVironment, best known for its unmanned aerial vehicles, recently announced a new contract for the delivery of its Jump 20 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial system.
According to the company’s press release, the contract was awarded by Italy’s Ministry of Defense. Valued at $46.6 million, the agreement covers not only the delivery of drones but also engineering services, technical support, and other related provisions. The five-year contract does not disclose the exact number of drones to be delivered. Italy plans to replace its existing fleet of Shadow drones with the new Jump 20 systems.
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AeroVironment emphasizes that the Jump 20 is a "combat-proven system," notably highlighting its operational deployment by Ukraine’s Defense Forces through international assistance programs.
Based on AeroVironment’s recent statements, Italy is at least the second international customer to procure the Jump 20 since the beginning of this year.
In February, Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization announced a contract for the Jump 20, with a maximum value of up to $181 million over a 10-year period.
At that time, AeroVironment also noted that its Jump 20 UAVs had accumulated more than 300,000 flight hours and were considered the best in their class.
Additionally, a new maritime variant of the drone, known as the Jump 20-X, was recently unveiled at the IDEX defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Among the upgrades, the drone has received at least a new engine.
The Jump 20 is a reconnaissance UAV capable of staying airborne for more than 13 hours with a flight range of up to 185 kilometers. It can be equipped with various payloads, and launch preparation takes less than 60 minutes.
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