A California start-up has broken the endurance flight record for small uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), with its test aircraft remaining aloft for three days and surpassing the previous milestone by nearly double. Continue reading
Category Archives: HAPS
BAE’s HAPS UAS PHASA-35 Completes First Successful Stratospheric Flight
British engineers have successfully completed a stratospheric flight trial of BAE Systems’ High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) – PHASA-35. Continue reading
UK HAPS Startup Takes Legal Action Against Airbus
Avealto Ltd has issued a cease and desist letter against Airbus HAPS Connectivity Solutions Ltd — recently renamed Aalto HAPS Ltd — in relation to its infringement of Avealto’s trademarked name. Continue reading
BT Tests Hydrogen-Powered HAPS to Deliver 5G Coverage to Rural Areas
BT Group and Stratospheric Platforms Ltd announced that they will test delivering mobile coverage using an innovative new antenna technology, designed to be mounted on a High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) aircraft. The trials, being conducted at BT’s global R&D headquarters at Adastral Park, aim to provide a solution to one of the final challenges of mobile connectivity – getting coverage to the hardest to reach areas. Continue reading
Airbus Seeks Outside Investment for Solar-Powered Zephyr Drone Programme
Airbus said on Monday it was seeking outside investment for its high-altitude surveillance and communications drone programme Zephyr, in a bid to create a standalone telecoms and earth observation business that could start commercial operations by the end of 2024. Continue reading
China’s Solar-Powered HAPS Makes Maiden Flight
China’s near-space solar-powered large unmanned aerial vehicle has recently carried out its maiden flight successfully, with analysts saying on Sunday that the drone can assume the role of a satellite for reconnaissance, monitoring, surveying and communications relay missions when satellite services are not immediately available in emergencies. Continue reading
Airbus Zephyr Ends 64 Day Stratospheric Flight Lost Over Arizona
On August 19th, the infamous solar-powered drone Zephyr was lost over Arizona, following an extended flight that had lasted for 64 days straight. It came within hours of breaking the record for the longest flight in history. Continue reading
Airbus Launches Business to Commercialize HAPS
Airbus has launched a connectivity services business through the creation of a dedicated HAPS Services Business based around Zephyr, Airbus’ leading HAPS technology platform. Continue reading