AeroVironment wins spot in US Navy ISR initiative with JUMP 20-X UAS

April 2, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

The US Navy has selected AeroVironment to provide contractor-owned, contractor-operated (COCO) intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) services in support of naval operations.

Under the Navy’s recently announced initiative to expand and modernize ISR capabilities, AV will compete for delivery orders alongside other selected industry partners to deliver ISR support with autonomous platforms, multi-sensor integration, and intelligence expertise.

AeroVironment’s JUMP 20-X Group 3 vertical take-off and landing uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) is set to underpin the US Navy’s expanded intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities across a range of land and maritime missions.

The platform is designed for multi-domain operations and offers fully autonomous, hands-free flight, with an endurance exceeding 13 hours, an operational range of up to 115 miles (185 km), and a payload capacity of 30 pounds. Its modular architecture allows for more than 70 payload configurations, enabling mission-specific adaptability, according to the company.

The system has also been engineered to dispense with traditional launch and recovery infrastructure, a feature aimed at streamlining logistics and supporting rapid deployment in space-constrained or austere operating environments.

“We are honored to be selected as a partner to help the U.S. Navy expand its ISR services and enhance mission-critical awareness for warfighters around the globe,” said Shane Hastings, Vice President of Medium Uncrewed Systems at AV.

Earlier on, the company delivered advanced ISR support services to the US Naval Forces Southern Command/US 4th Fleet, the US Marine Corps 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, and the Korean Navy.