Persistence Rewarded For Zephyr ‘Pseudo-Satellite’ Project | Aviation International News

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Persistence Rewarded For Zephyr ‘Pseudo-Satellite’ Project

After years of development, Airbus D&S has gained a first order for the solar-powered high-altitude vehicle,

The Zephyr is a solar-powered high-altitude platform for small sensor or communications payloads. [Photo: Airbus D&S]

By Chris Pocock • Defense Correspondent

February 20, 2016

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has ordered two solar-powered Zephyr 8 high-altitude ‘pseudo satellites’, according to Airbus Defence & Space. In a recent statement to the British parliament, defense procurement minister Philip Dunne said that the $16 million contract was for an operational concept demonstration. The payload is believed to be covert communications for special forces, though small intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors can also be carried.

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