Home Americas USSOCOM contracts AeroVironment for ISR services with its JUMP-20 VTOL UAS

USSOCOM contracts AeroVironment for ISR services with its JUMP-20 VTOL UAS

LUMP 20 VTOL fixed-wing UAV
Photo: AeroVironment

The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has awarded AeroVironment a competitive task order valued at approximately $22 million for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) services using its JUMP-20 medium unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

The contract for services at an undisclosed customer location was concluded in May this year and covers a 12-month period of performance with multiple follow-on option years.

The ISR services include the first SATCOM-enabled unmanned aircraft system for beyond line of sight operations as part of the existing indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) MEUAS IV contract.

In June 2020, USSOCOM selected six companies that would compete for $975 million worth of task orders for ISR services. In addition to Arcturus UAV, the AeroVironment subsidiary that developed JUMP-20, Insitu, L3Harris Technologies, Precision Integrated Programs, Textron and Wildflower International won spots on the IDIQ contract.

“The inclusion of a SATCOM payload adds beyond line of sight operation to the JUMP 20, providing our customer with expanded reach and situational awareness, and representing another game-changing, market-leading capability,” said Gorik Hossepian, AeroVironment vice president and product line general manager for medium UAS.

JUMP-20 is the first fixed-wing unmanned aircraft system capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) to be deployed in support of US military forces, according to the company. The UAS delivers 14+ hours of endurance, a standard operational range of 185 km (115 mi) and is runway independent.

The system can be set up and operational in less than 60 minutes without the need for launch or recovery equipment and has a useable payload capacity of up to 30 pounds. The JUMP 20 also features a common autopilot and ground control system architecture.