“AEROVIRONMENT’S JUMP 20 MEDIUM UAS DEMONSTRATES MARITIME AUTONOMOUS TAKEOFF AND LANDING AT VESSEL SPEEDS OVER 20 KNOTS” –News Release

Below is a news release from AeroVironment reporting autonomous takeoff and landing from USNS Burlington (T-EPF-10), pictured below, at speeds of over 20 knots. I also found the video above that shows operation from a smaller vessel and provides more detail of how the unmanned aircraft is operated and supported.

CARIBBEAN SEA (Aug. 25, 2021) The Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) operates off the coast of Haiti, Aug. 25, 2021. Burlington is deployed to U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) efforts in Haiti following a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Aug. 14, 2021. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jack D. Aistrup)

Another good video here:

It appears 4th Fleet is trying to fulfill their self proclaimed role as the Fleet for Innovation.


AEROVIRONMENT’S JUMP 20 MEDIUM UAS DEMONSTRATES MARITIME AUTONOMOUS TAKEOFF AND LANDING AT VESSEL SPEEDS OVER 20 KNOTS

NOVEMBER 07, 2023

ARLINGTON, Va., November 07, 2023 – AeroVironment, Inc (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced the company’s JUMP 20 VTOL Medium UAS exceeded expectations during the recent U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/4th Fleet Hybrid Fleet Campaign Event (HFCE) that demonstrated human-machine teaming in the maritime domain. The JUMP 20 provided ship-based intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting (ISR-T) support to USFOURTHFLT and USSOUTHCOM during the week-long, at-sea exercise onboard USNS Burlington. The JUMP 20 has previously flown over 130,000 land-based hours in support of U.S. Special Operations Command combat deployments, and the expansion of JUMP 20 operations into the shipboard environment allows AeroVironment to provide these services globally.

During HFCE, JUMP 20 showcased its ability to launch and recover at vessel speeds over 20 knots, with fully autonomous flight from takeoff to landing.  The JUMP 20 requires neither launch or recovery equipment, nor personnel on the flight deck during launch and recovery, maximizing operational safety and flexibility for users. JUMP 20’s vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capability, and class-leading endurance and payload capacity expand the operational capabilities of U.S. and allies to compete and win in the era of great power competition.  The JUMP 20 demonstrated how uncrewed systems will support distributed operations across multiple domains, supporting national security objectives and our warfighters.

“The shipboard flight environment is dynamic and challenging. JUMP 20 is a proven combat-effective platform, and the system’s performance during HFCE illustrates the value to maritime operations.  JUMP 20’s ability to launch and land at speed, and without personnel intervention, enhances the ship’s operational effectiveness and enables operators to focus on important mission tasking,” said Shane Hastings, AeroVironment’s vice president and product line general manager for Medium UAS. “As we continue to demonstrate and prove the effectiveness of the JUMP 20 platform, we look forward to getting this capability in the hands of our sailors, Marines, and allies operating in the maritime environment.” AeroVironment JUMP 20 is deployed to U.S. and allied militaries around the world, and it can be provided on a contractor-owned / contractor-operated (COCO) basis to maximize operational flexibility.

1 thought on ““AEROVIRONMENT’S JUMP 20 MEDIUM UAS DEMONSTRATES MARITIME AUTONOMOUS TAKEOFF AND LANDING AT VESSEL SPEEDS OVER 20 KNOTS” –News Release

  1. Using these for the search function saves hours on the helicopter and is in many ways better. More economical, greater duration, possibly better sensors. This way the helicopter can be saved for the functions it does best.

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