Airbus Zephyr

2023: Airbus set aside telecommunications drone business as a standalone company

On January 23, 2023, it became known about the decision of Airbus to allocate a business for the production of drones for telecommunications to an independent company. We are talking about the Zephyr project. Read more here.

2018: Zephyr solar-powered high-altitude drone

On August 10, 2018, Airbus Defense and Space announced the successful landing of the high-altitude drone Zephyr S HAPS (High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite). The aircraft is a serial variant under the Zephyr program. After takeoff, which took place on July 11, 2018 in Arizona (USA), Zephyr S spent more than 25 days in the air. During the flight of the Zephyr S on solar panels, the capabilities of the system were tested and the assigned technical tasks were achieved.

Zephyr solar-powered high-altitude drone

The tests were supported by the UK government. The UK Ministry of Defence is the starting customer for the aircraft.

Zephyr is a stratospheric unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) powered by. solar panels It flies at an altitude inaccessible to regular air communication, over clouds and airflows. This device allows you to complement the work of satellites, other drones and manned aircraft to ensure stable satellite communication on the ground.

The success of the Zephyr flight is an important milestone in the development of this program. The record for the duration of flight in the stratosphere is set and we hope that it will be officially confirmed soon. We will review all technical data and test results shortly and begin preparing an additional series of flights to be conducted in the second half of 2018 at the test site at Wyndham Airport in Western Australia.

Zephyr will provide opportunities for both the commercial sector and the military departments. The aircraft will serve as a source for the development of disaster prevention and response programs, including monitoring the spread of forest fires or oil spills. The drone will provide constant surveillance and the ability to track climate change, as well as satellite communications over the most inaccessible areas.

The initial mission of the Zephyr program is to provide local services at an affordable price using renewable solar energy, applicable in a wide variety of areas: from offshore surveillance and border patrols to wildfire monitoring and the provision of satellite communications or navigation using a device equipped with reusable solar panels. The wing span of the Zephyr is 25 meters, and the weight does not exceed 75 kg. The drone flies in the stratosphere at an altitude of 21 km, inaccessible to regular air communication, over clouds and air flows.

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