Airbus Zephyr

The Airbus Zephyr is less a conventional UAV and more a solar-powered platform designed to operate in the stratosphere. Classified within the HALE and HAPS categories, it uses solar energy instead of carrying conventional aviation fuel. Its batteries can be recharged during daylight, allowing the aircraft to continue flying through the night and remain over an area for extended periods.

According to the Plarok dataset, Zephyr has an approximate wingspan of 25 metres, a maximum takeoff weight of 75 kilograms and a mission altitude of 70,000 feet. The recorded endurance of 1,440 hours corresponds to roughly 60 days of continuous operation. Speed, range and payload figures have not been finalised in the dataset because they can vary between configurations and mission packages.

Zephyr is designed to do more than collect imagery. With electro-optical payloads, it can observe large areas from the stratosphere, while communications equipment can turn the aircraft into a high-altitude relay point. The concept combines some of the persistence associated with satellites with the flexibility of an aircraft, creating potential applications in border monitoring, maritime surveillance, disaster response, environmental observation and connectivity for remote areas.