AeroVironment JUMP 20 Specs: 13+ Hour VTOL and the JUMP 20-X

What AeroVironment Publishes for the JUMP 20

AeroVironment publishes four headline figures for the JUMP 20: 13+ hours of endurance, 115 mi (185 km) of link range, up to 30 lb (13.6 kg) of usable payload, and setup in less than 30 minutes without launch or recovery equipment. Both the JUMP 20 datasheet and the JUMP 20 product page carry AeroVironment's class label, "Group 3 VTOL Fixed Wing."

The JUMP 20 is an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft that needs no runway or launch system, because it takes off and lands vertically. AeroVironment files the JUMP 20 under its Air and Land domains.

The JUMP 20-X publishes the same endurance, range and payload numbers, so the gap between the two aircraft sits outside the performance table. For where Group 3 sits among the Department of Defense size classes, see the types of military drones page.

AeroVironment JUMP 20 Datasheet Specifications

The JUMP 20 datasheet lists a 215 lb (97.5 kg) maximum gross takeoff weight (MGTOW), including fuel and payload, on an 18.8 ft (5.7 m) wingspan. The JUMP 20 is 9.5 ft (2.9 m) long and flies at 58 mph (50 knots).

The operating altitude is 17,000 ft density altitude (DA). Power comes from a 190 cc electronic fuel injection (EFI) engine burning MOGAS (motor gasoline), with battery power for the vertical jump.

How the JUMP 20-X Differs from the AeroVironment JUMP 20

The JUMP 20-X publishes the same performance figures as the JUMP 20 and differs in engine, airframe, ground station, autonomy, link options, weapons release and domains.

Set the JUMP 20-X datasheet beside the JUMP 20 datasheet and every performance row matches: 13+ hr, 115 mi (185 km), 30 lb (13.6 kg), 58 mph (50 kts), 17,000 ft DA, 18.8 ft wingspan, 9.5 ft length and 215 lb MGTOW.

A buyer comparing the two on a spec table will find no difference, because the differences are in fuel logistics, operating environment and mission role. The JUMP 20-X runs a 230 cc two-stroke heavy-fuel engine on JP-5, JP-8, Jet A or MoGas, where the JUMP 20 runs a 190 cc EFI engine on MOGAS.

AeroVironment describes the JUMP 20-X airframe and electronics as fully marinized for harsh shipboard operations, a claim the JUMP 20's sources do not make. The JUMP 20 uses a common autopilot and ground control system (GCS) architecture.

The JUMP 20-X also carries a demonstrated strike role. In a July 2026 Marine Corps test it released a Switchblade 300 Block 20 loitering munition from its undercarriage, and its datasheet lists munitions among its payload categories. The JUMP 20's sources claim no weapons-release role.

The operator who gains least from the JUMP 20-X flies from a fixed land site, already has MOGAS in the supply chain, needs ISR only and will not arm the aircraft. That operator takes on heavy-fuel flexibility, marinization, moving-deck landing autonomy and a weapons role that a land ISR mission leaves unused.

The comparison would turn on something else if a published performance figure diverged between the two datasheets, or if AeroVironment published a price for either aircraft.

VTOL Launch and Recovery without a Runway

The JUMP 20 takes off and lands vertically, so it needs no runway, launch system or recovery equipment. AeroVironment states the JUMP 20 is set up and operational in less than 30 minutes without launch or recovery gear.

The datasheet pairs the 190 cc MOGAS engine with battery power for the vertical jump. For the broader tradeoff between wing-borne and rotor-borne designs, see fixed-wing vs multirotor drones.

The JUMP 20-X extends vertical recovery to ships. AeroVironment says the 20-X uses AI-enhanced precision landing on moving ships in high sea states, with predictive algorithms that adapt to deck motion, and flies fully autonomous hands-free from takeoff to landing. AeroVironment does not put a number on "high sea states," so a naval buyer should ask for the rated sea state in writing.

The 30 lb Payload Bay and Its Imaging Systems

The JUMP 20 carries up to 30 lb (13.6 kg) in a multi-mission payload bay built around long-range electro-optical and mid-wave infrared (EO/MWIR) imaging. The imaging carries onboard tracking, stabilization and video processing.

The JUMP 20 datasheet lists four interchangeable imaging systems, each offering EO and MWIR channels. AeroVironment describes the JUMP 20 as a customizable, modular platform that can be configured to operational or customer requirements.

The data links support ISR, manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) interoperability and communication across multiple channels and bands. A communications relay function passes ground-to-ground and pilot-to-ground voice and video in urban areas or difficult terrain.

The JUMP 20-X adds a modular, open-system approach (MOSA) that is payload-agnostic and radio-agnostic, accepting third-party payloads, radios and control options. Its SPOTR-EDGE software detects, classifies and tracks objects onboard, with AI overlays that identify and categorize vessels. AeroVironment's July 2026 release claims "more than 70 integrated payloads" for the JUMP 20; that count is AeroVironment's own and no list behind it is published.

The MQ-31A Designation and European Operators

The JUMP 20 holds the military designation MQ-31A, assigned by Italy's Directorate of Aeronautical Armaments and Airworthiness (DAAA) for delivery to the Italian Army. AeroVironment's July 2026 MQ-31A release states the designation confirms Italy's Ministry of Defence recognises the JUMP 20 as an official military capability.

The MQ-31A designation comes from Italy. No United States designation for the JUMP 20 appears in any AeroVironment source.

The designation follows AeroVironment's April 2025 contract to deliver JUMP 20 VTOL aircraft systems, sustainment, engineering and support to replace Italy's legacy unmanned ISR fleet. AeroVironment says the JUMP 20 won that work over multiple bidders in a competitive procurement.

The release names four European forces that have adopted or are adopting the JUMP 20: Italy, Denmark, Lithuania and the Czech Republic. It quotes Shane Hastings, Vice President and General Manager, Medium Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and claims "over 500,000 flight hours in operational environments," a figure AeroVironment does not break down by aircraft or operator.

The Marine Corps JUMP 20-X Test at Twentynine Palms

The 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division ran what it calls the U.S. Marine Corps' first test of the JUMP 20-X at the conventional level during Service Level Training Exercise 4-26 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. The Marine Corps story reposted by AeroVironment is credited to Sgt. Alexis French, 2nd Marine Division, and was posted on 17 July 2026.

The JUMP 20-X carried a Switchblade 300 Block 20 loitering munition released from its undercarriage. On 16 and 17 July 2026 the regiment engaged a target 25 kilometres into the battlespace. The story names CWO2 Christopher Leone as the regiment's intel operations and fusion officer and ISR tactical controller.

The story says 2nd Marines are the first to test a Group 3 asset at the regimental level. It adds that Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadrons 1, 2 and 3 fly MQ-9s at the Group 5 level. The loitering munitions page covers the weapon class the JUMP 20-X carried.

The endurance figure varies by source. AeroVironment's JUMP 20-X datasheet states 13+ hr, while the Marine Corps story states 12 hours of in-air flight time, alongside a 115-mile range, EO/IR cameras and up to 30 pounds of payload. A planner working from the Marine figure is working with at least one hour less than the datasheet rating, so mission plans should state which source they use.

Sustainment, the Spain MOU and the FMS Contract

AeroVironment signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Alpha Unmanned Systems S.L. to explore collaboration supporting the JUMP 20. It was announced on 14 October 2026, in connection with the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting & Exposition. The MOU is a framework to explore cooperation, not a contract or an order, and the Spain MOU release publishes no value, term or delivery commitment.

The framework covers JUMP 20 fielding, sustainment, training, maintenance, and in-country and in-theatre support, starting in Spain and possibly expanding to Europe and Latin America. The two companies plan to evaluate integrating Alpha Unmanned Systems' GCASE Ground Control Station, GTRACK tracking system and AIS module into the JUMP 20.

The release names Eric Freeman as Alpha Unmanned Systems' chief executive and Shane Hastings as AeroVironment's senior vice president and general manager of uncrewed systems.

On 8 December 2025 AeroVironment announced a five-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract worth $874.26 million from the U.S. Army Contracting Command, supporting foreign military sales (FMS) through Program Executive Office (PEO) Aviation. The FMS IDIQ release lets allied and partner forces buy Group 1 to 3 unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and counter-UAS (C-UAS) systems.

Five systems are named under the vehicle: specific variations of the JUMP 20, P550, Puma, Raven and Titan C-UAS, plus training, initial spares and logistics support. The $874.26 million is the ceiling of the IDIQ vehicle. It is not an order placed and not revenue, and no quantity, per-aircraft figure or delivery schedule is published.

The release names the JUMP 20 and does not name the JUMP 20-X. It quotes Justin McFarlin, AeroVironment's Vice President of International Business Development.

What AeroVironment Does Not Publish for the JUMP 20

AeroVironment publishes no price for the JUMP 20 or the JUMP 20-X on either product page or either datasheet. Several other figures are also absent from every source.

• No unit price, system price or per-aircraft cost for either aircraft
• No fuel capacity, fuel burn rate or individual sensor weight
• No count of aircraft, ground stations or crew in one JUMP 20 system
• No fielded quantities, and no operator list beyond the four European forces named in the MQ-31A release
• No numeric sea state behind the JUMP 20-X's "high sea states" landing claim
• No breakdown behind the "more than 70 integrated payloads" and "over 500,000 flight hours" claims.

What to Check with AeroVironment Directly

For any figure missing here, check the JUMP 20 product page or ask AeroVironment directly before relying on it.

The JUMP 20-X figures sit on their own JUMP 20-X product page.