According to AeroVironment, the MQ-31A designation confirms that the Italian Ministry of Defence recognizes the JUMP 20 as an official military capability.
“This designation validates that JUMP 20 meets the standards of a modern European military and underscores the system’s ability to deliver actionable intelligence and persistent overwatch in highly contested environments,” said Shane Hastings, Vice President and General Manager, Medium Unmanned Aircraft Systems at AV. “It also signals that Italy is treating JUMP 20 as an integrated element of its formal military inventory, rather than a limited trial or off-the-shelf experiment.”
JUMP 20 Supports Italian Military UAS Modernization
The MQ-31A designation follows AeroVironment’s April 2025 contract to deliver JUMP 20 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft systems, along with sustainment, engineering and support services.
According to the company, the program will replace Italy’s legacy unmanned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) fleet while enhancing:
- NATO interoperability
- Expeditionary operations
- Operational readiness
AeroVironment said the JUMP 20 was selected through a competitive procurement process involving multiple bidders.
Tactical UAS Expands Presence Among NATO Forces
The company stated that the JUMP 20 continues to see increased adoption among NATO forces in Europe.
“Across Europe, JUMP 20 continues to gain traction with allied forces, including Italy, Denmark, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic, reinforcing its position as a trusted and rapidly adopted medium UAS platform,” said Hastings.
JUMP 20 Features and Capabilities
According to AeroVironment, the JUMP 20 is a vertical takeoff and landing, fixed-wing unmanned aircraft system designed for operational flexibility.
The company said the platform includes:
- More than 13 hours of endurance
- Operational range of 185 km (115 mi)
- Autonomous launch and landing without personnel intervention
- Runway-independent operation
- Transportable design for mobile deployments
- Open system architecture supporting more than 70 integrated payloads
- More than 500,000 operational flight hours
The system also features a 30-pound modular payload capacity designed to support evolving concepts of operations (CONOPS) and multi-domain mission requirements. AeroVironment said its modular architecture enables integration of next-generation sensors, communication tools and advanced autonomy technologies.
The MQ-31A designation marks another step in the deployment of the JUMP 20 with the Italian Army while expanding AeroVironment’s military UAS portfolio in Europe.
For more information, visit www.avinc.com.
Source: Press release from AeroVironment
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