AeroVironment’s JUMP 20 medium uncrewed aircraft system (MUAS) has completed a six-month maritime deployment in support of the U.S. Navy’s 4th Fleet during Operation Southern Spear, the company announced on June 12.
Deployed across the Caribbean and southern Atlantic region, the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) system provided persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), actively monitoring potential illicit activities under the fleet’s area of responsibility. The mission was conducted under the MARLINS Task Order, with AV operating as a subcontractor to prime contractor SMX.
Designed for autonomous launch and recovery on moving ships, JUMP 20 is capable of operating in sea states up to level 5 and in winds exceeding 20 knots, without the need for additional launch or recovery equipment. AV says the system’s modularity, payload capacity, and endurance distinguish it from other Group 3 UAS platforms.
According to the Navy, Operation Southern Spear aimed to advance the Hybrid Fleet Campaign by integrating robotic and autonomous systems with manned platforms. The deployment marked a transition from experimental trials to extended operations and contributed to developing procedures for global integration of unmanned systems.
AV’s vice president and general manager for medium UAS, Shane Hastings, stated that the deployment “marked the culmination” of 18 months of development focused on the JUMP 20’s maritime capabilities.
Having already logged over 130,000 land-based flight hours in support of U.S. Special Operations Command, the JUMP 20’s shipborne deployment underscores its expanding role in multi-domain operations.