AeroVironment, the developer of unmanned systems, is building a new Jump 20 Unmanned Aircraft System (MUAS) selected by the Army Brigade Combat Team (BCT). The system consists of six aircraft, ground data terminals and ground control stations.

“The U.S. Army will test and deploy the Jump 20 on an accelerated schedule as they work to replace the currently in service RQ-7B Shadow UAV with brigade combat teams,” said Gorik Hossepian, vice president of AeroVironment and general manager of the MUAS product line. .

The battle-proven Jump 20 is a rapidly deployable, runway-independent vertical take-off and landing solution for the military. The ability to deploy, command and support from anywhere is game-changing on the operational field and when the enemy invades or destroys infrastructure.

AeroVironment says the Jump 20 is the first fixed-wing unmanned aerial system capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), widely used to support the US military. The system provides over 14 hours of battery life, a standard 115 miles (185 kilometers) operating range, and is track independent. It has a carrying capacity of up to 13.6 kg.

The military needed to replace the RQ-7B Shadow with an organically transportable, vertical take-off and landing aircraft with reduced acoustic visibility, which provides commanders with instant reconnaissance, surveillance and target detection capabilities.

According to the military, FTUAS is expected to deploy quickly in less than 45 minutes, have a smaller size and footprint than Shadow, and have similar capabilities. It will be carried by a single CH-47, providing more than six hours of autonomy and a flight range of up to 100 kilometers.