AeroVironment has signed a strategic agreement with Korean Air to develop a new tactical unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed to enhance South Korea’s surveillance, reconnaissance, and battlefield intelligence capabilities. The collaboration designates Korean Air as AeroVironment’s exclusive domestic partner, marking a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen the Republic of Korea’s indigenous drone industry.
At the heart of the project is the JUMP 20—a proven, fixed-wing VTOL drone that can take off and land vertically while delivering long-endurance and high-altitude flight performance. The partners plan to modify and localize the system to match specific requirements of the South Korean military, while also cooperating on research, production, and technology transfer. According to AeroVironment, this initiative represents a key step toward expanding Seoul’s UAS fleet and advancing autonomous operational capabilities critical to modern warfare.
The agreement also supports South Korea’s national strategy to build a resilient defense ecosystem, focusing on local production, advanced technology development, and export competitiveness. By establishing a joint innovation and manufacturing framework, Korean Air and AeroVironment aim to accelerate drone integration across defense and border security missions.
The JUMP 20 drone measures 10 feet (3 meters) in length and 19 feet (6 meters) across its wingspan, supporting payloads of up to 30 pounds (14 kilograms) for ISR and monitoring missions. It operates using a 190cc EFI gasoline engine, offering a top speed of 50 knots (93 kilometers per hour), a maximum altitude of 17,000 feet (5,182 meters), and an endurance exceeding 13 hours. The aircraft also maintains communication links over 115 miles (185 kilometers), allowing long-range mission control. The system is battle-proven, currently in service with several NATO allies, including Denmark and Italy—a testament to its reliability and operational maturity.
