Drone Firm Reveals Its Latest Ship-Launched UAS

Drone specialist AeroVironment has unveiled JUMP 20-X, its latest autonomous uncrewed aerial system (UAS) optimised for use at sea.

The new system was revealed for the first time at this week’s International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

As per a company press statement, the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone boasts 13-hour flight endurance and beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) connectivity, and can carry payloads of up to 30lbs.

The firm said the JUMP 20-X can be deployed day or night in a range of challenging environments including from the decks of fast-moving ships, and in rough seas. Potential uses include persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as electronic warfare (EW) and strike missions.

The system is payload- and radio-agnostic, uses open systems architecture, and complies with NATO STANAG standards to afford optimum interoperability.

The firm noted: “AV’s cutting-edge SPOTR-Edge computer vision technology enables automated object detection and classification, enhancing situational awareness and tactical decision-making in real-time.”

AeroVironment’s vice president and general manager of Medium Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Shane Hastings described the JUMP 20-X as “a force multiplier that delivers… unmatched versatility, efficiency, and reliability” and claimed it “redefines what’s possible for maritime and expeditionary UAS operations in the most contested domains.”

• You can read more details on the AeroVironment website