AeroVironment's Jump 20 drone receives MQ-31A designation in Italy

AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) announced it has received an MQ-31A military designation from Italy's Directorate of Aeronautical Armaments and Airworthiness (DAAA) for its JUMP 20 unmanned aircraft system (UAS), to be delivered to the Italian Army.

The designation, granted by Italy's Ministry of Defence, formally recognizes the JUMP 20 as part of Italy's official military inventory. It follows a $46.6 million contract signed in April 2025 to deliver JUMP 20 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft systems, along with sustainment, engineering, and support services. The contract was intended to replace Italy's legacy unmanned intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance fleet.

"This designation validates that JUMP 20 meets the standards of a modern European military and underscores the system's ability to deliver actionable intelligence and persistent overwatch in highly contested environments," said Shane Hastings, Vice President and General Manager of Medium Unmanned Aircraft Systems at AeroVironment.

The JUMP 20 was selected through a competitive procurement process. According to the company, the system is also in use among NATO allies including Denmark, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic.

The JUMP 20 is a fixed-wing, runway-independent UAS with over 13 hours of endurance and an operational range of 185 km. It supports more than 70 integrated payloads and has logged over 500,000 flight hours. The system features a 30-pound modular payload capacity and autonomous launch and landing capability.

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