Intro
The JUMP 20 is a medium-class VTOL unmanned aerial system designed to combine the operational reach of a fixed-wing aircraft with the flexibility of a VTOL rotorcraft. The airframe is a hybrid design with a fixed-wing fuselage supported by vertical lift arms and motors that enable takeoff and landing like a helicopter, yet transition to efficient fixed-wing flight for long endurance missions. The result is a platform that requires no runway or launch gear, can be rapidly transported and set up in less than an hour, and can autonomously operate in austere and expeditionary environments.
Built for combat-tested and coalition use, JUMP 20 has achieved field adoption by NATO allies including Denmark under a multi-year program of record, and Italy’s Ministry of Defense, which selected the platform to modernize tactical UAS capabilities. The high endurance (>13 hours) and operational range of 185 km, allow persistent coverage of wide areas for tactical picture development and situational awareness, while its VTOL design enables operations from ships, forward bases, and confined spaces without infrastructure.
Modularity is central to the JUMP 20’s mission adaptability: the large 13.6 kg payload bay can be outfitted with a variety of mission-specific sensors, such as electro-optical/infrared cameras, hyperspectral optical radar (HSOR) for advanced material and environmental analysis, signals intelligence (SIGINT), communications relay modules, or emerging payloads as needs evolve. The platform’s common autopilot and ground control architecture supports configurable mission profiles tailored to user requirements without reengineering the entire system.
JUMP 20 has also been demonstrated in maritime autonomous operations, autonomously launching and landing on moving ships at sea without personnel handling, expanding its utility beyond land environments. Its performance in these conditions underscores the system’s flexibility and durability in demanding operational settings, further enhancing mission effectiveness for deployed warfighters and security forces.
Building on the baseline JUMP 20, the JUMP 20-X variant represents a next-generation, modular VTOL UAS designed to meet evolving operational demands across land and maritime environments. Retaining the core JUMP 20 airframe dimensions and endurance characteristics, including 13+ hours flight time and up to 13.6 kg payload capacity, the 20-X enhances mission flexibility with an advanced heavy-fuel engine capable of running on multiple fuel types for simplified logistics and compatibility with naval refueling standards. It is engineered to be fully marinized and resilient in harsh sea conditions, with autonomous precision landing capability even on moving ship decks using AI-enhanced autonomy and computer vision technologies such as SPOTR-Edge for object detection and classification. This combination of all-domain autonomy, modular payload architecture, and ruggedized design enables 20-X to support a broader spectrum of missions including ISR, wide-area and radar surveillance, SIGINT/EW, secure communications relay, and even customizable precision strike options that extend beyond traditional reconnaissance roles.
Unlike the original JUMP 20, which emphasizes tactical ISR and multi-mission payload flexibility for land and basic maritime operations, the JUMP 20-X is specifically optimized for complex expeditionary and naval scenarios. Its design includes omni-fuel capability and an open Modular systems Architecture (MOSA) that supports payload-agnostic and radio-agnostic integration, facilitating interoperability with coalition forces and joint systems under NATO-aligned standards. Enhanced navigation and anti-jamming features further strengthen its performance in contested and radio-denied environments, while the heavy-fuel powertrain improves operational efficiency and extends forward deployment autonomy. With dual-use potential across expeditionary, homeland security, and defense applications, the JUMP 20-X significantly expands the baseline JUMP 20’s operational envelope into a true cross-domain tactical UAS platform suitable for future multi-domain operations.
Together, both JUMP 20 and JUMP 20-X represent an evolution of VTOL medium UAS technology — combining runway-independent deployment, long endurance, modular sensor capability, and advanced autonomous functions — positioning the series as a flexible solution for modern ISR and beyond.