Airbus Zephyr
{{Short description|Series of lightweight solar-powered UAV}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{use British English|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = Zephyr
| image = File:Airbus Zephyr Artists Impression.jpg
| alt =
| caption = An artist's impression of the UAV
| more_users =
| developed_into =
| type = high-altitude platform station
| national_origin = United Kingdom
| manufacturer = Airbus Defence and Space
| design_group = initially Qinetiq
| designer =
| first_flight = December 2005{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/energetic-qinetiq/68321.article |title= Energetic Qinetiq |date= 11 July 2006 |author= Craig Hoyle |work= flightglobal}}
| active =
| retired =
| status = Under development
| primary_user =
| produced =
| number_built =
| program cost =
| developed_from =
| variants =
}}
The Zephyr is a series of high-altitude platform station aircraft produced by Airbus. They were designed originally by QinetiQ, a commercial offshoot of the UK Ministry of Defence. In July 2010, the Zephyr 7 flew for 14 days. In March 2013, the project was sold to Airbus Defence and Space. In the summer of 2022, the Zephyr 8/S flew for 64 days.
The unmanned aerial vehicles are powered by solar cells, recharging batteries in daylight to stay aloft at night. The latest Zephyr 8/S weighs {{cvt|60|kg}}, has a wingspan of {{cvt|25|m}}, can reach {{cvt|76,100|ft|order=flip}} and can lift a {{cvt|5|kg}} payload for months. They can be used for mobile phone coverage, environmental monitoring, military reconnaissance or as a communications relay.
Development
= Zephyr 3 =
In 2003, QinetiQ, a commercial offshoot of the UK Ministry of Defence, was planning to fly its Zephyr 3 up to 40 km at {{cvt|70|m/s|km/h kn}}, after being released from a high-altitude balloon at 9 km, besting the NASA Helios which had reached 29 km. It was envisionned as an alternative to space satellites, stationed permanently in the stratosphere for environmental monitoring, mobile phone coverage or military applications.{{Cite news |last= Amos |first= Jonathan |title= Strato-plane looks forward |work= BBC News |date= 24 June 2003 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3016082.stm }} The QinetiQ 1 balloon altitude record attempt failed in 2003.
In February 2005, Qinetiq was preparing a demonstration above 30,000 ft for the UK Ministry of Defence at the Woomera Test Range in Australia, for reconnaissance or as a communications relay.{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/uks-zephyr-uav-to-be-tested-for-military-role/59002.article |title= UK's Zephyr UAV to be tested for military role |date= 22 February 2005 |work= Flight International |author= Craig Hoyle }}
= Zephyr 5 =
= Zephyr 6 =
First flew in 2006.{{Cite web |title=Our History |url=https://www.aaltohaps.com/our-history/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=AALTO |language=en-GB}} Between 28 and 31 July 2008, in a demonstration for the US military at its Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, the Zephyr 6 flew for 82 hours and 37 minutes, an unofficial record as the FAI wasn't involved.{{Cite news | last = Amos | first = Jonathan | title = Solar plane makes record flight |work= BBC News | date =24 August 2008 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7577493.stm}}
= Zephyr 7 =
On 23 July 2010, the Zephyr 7 took the FAI-sanctioned duration record after a 336 hours (14 days), 22 min and 8 s flight,{{cite web |url= https://www.fai.org/record/16052 |title=FAI Record ID No. 16052 |date=16 October 2017 |quote= Absolute Record of class U (Experimental / New Technologies) for Duration |publisher=FAI }} reaching {{cvt|21,562|m}}.{{cite web |url= https://www.fai.org/record/18683 |title=FAI Record ID No. 18683 |date=29 August 2018 |quote= Record of class U (Experimental / New Technologies) for True altitude |publisher=FAI }} It exceeded the nine days (216 hours) of the 1986 round-the-world flight of the Rutan Voyager.{{Cite news | last = Amos | first = Jonathan | title ='Eternal plane' returns to Earth |work= BBC News | date = 23 July 2010 | url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10733998}}
In March 2013, the project was sold to EADS Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space).{{cite press release |url=http://www.astrium.eads.net/en/news2/first-flight-of-astrium-s-zephyr-solar-haps.html |title=First flight of Astrium's Zephyr solar HAPS |publisher=Airbus |date= 25 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005205329/http://www.astrium.eads.net/en/news2/first-flight-of-astrium-s-zephyr-solar-haps.html |archive-date=5 October 2013}}
In 2014 it flew for 11 days in the short days of winter whilst carrying a small payload for the British Ministry of Defence,{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/11064789/Fly-11-days-non-stop-Now-thats-long-haul.html |newspaper= Daily Telegraph |title= Fly 11 days non-stop? Now that's long-haul | first= Alan | last= Tovey | date=31 August 2014}} and later near civilian airspace.{{cite news |author= Woodrow Bellamy III |url= https://www.aviationtoday.com/2014/10/01/airbus-zephyr-proves-value-for-civil-operations-in-middle-east/ |title= Airbus Zephyr Proves Value For Civil Operations in Middle East |work= Avionics Today |publisher= Access Intelligence LLC |date= 1 October 2014}}
= Zephyr 8/S =
In February 2016, the UK Ministry of Defence purchased two Zephyr 8 planes.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35478489 |title=MoD to buy high-flying solar planes |date=2 February 2016 |work= BBC}} In August 2016, a third was purchased.{{cite press release |title=MOD buys third record-breaking UAV |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mod-buys-third-record-breaking-uav |publisher= UK MOD |date=17 August 2016}}
In 2016, a twin-tailed Zephyr T variant, providing a maritime surveillance and communications capability, was scheduled for flight testing in 2018.{{cite news |title=Farnborough 2016: Airbus releases Zephyr T details, outlines CONOPS for systems |url=http://www.janes.com/article/62274/farnborough-2016-airbus-releases-zephyr-t-details-outlines-conops-for-systems |publisher=Janes |date=14 July 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160825180252/http://www.janes.com/article/62274/farnborough-2016-airbus-releases-zephyr-t-details-outlines-conops-for-systems |archive-date=25 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}
In summer 2018, for its maiden flight from Arizona, the Zephyr S remained aloft for 25 days 23 hours 57 minutes, nearly twice as long as the previous record flight of 14 days set by its predecessor.{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-sets-flight-endurance-record-with-zephyr-uav-451006/ |title= Airbus sets flight endurance record with Zephyr UAV |date= 8 August 2018 |author= Dan Thisdell |work= Flightglobal }}
By October 2021, it had flown 2,435 hours.{{cite news |last1=Sampson |first1=Ben |title= Airbus Zephyr breaks more aviation records during flight testing |url= https://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com/news/flight-testing/airbus-zephyr-breaks-more-aviation-records-during-flight-testing.html |website=Aerospace Testing International |date= 15 October 2021}}
On 15 June 2022, the Zephyr S took off in Arizona, venturing for the first time into international airspace and over water.{{Cite news |last=Buchaniec |first=Catherine |date=2022-07-22 |title=Up, up and away: Airbus' Zephyr drone breaks flight record high above Arizona |url=https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2022/07/22/up-up-and-away-airbus-zephyr-drone-breaks-flight-record-high-above-arizona/ |website=Defense News }} On 19 August, the plane was lost over the Arizona desert after a flight time of 64 days.{{cn|date=June 2024}} It covered 56,000 km over the southern United States, the Gulf of Mexico, and South America.{{cite news |url= https://newatlas.com/aircraft/zephyr-8-mission-ends-abruptly-record-breaking-endurance-flight/ |title= Unexpected end to Zephyr 8's record-smashing 64-day endurance flight |work= New Atlas |date= 24 August 2022}}
The aircraft was lost when one engine component (redesigned since) failed in an unusual high-altitude storm turbulence at 17 km.
By early 2023, Airbus planned to launch operations from the end of 2024 with around 18 aircraft.
By 2034, a 1,000 aircraft constellation could cover 2.9 billion people, and would provide emergency 4G/5G following natural disasters.
The larger Zephyr variant, with twice the payload capacity, is expected for 2026.{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/airbus-readies-high-flying-zephyr-for-2024-service-launch/151546.article |title= Airbus readies high-flying Zephyr for 2024 service launch |author= Craig Hoyle |date= 6 January 2023 |work= Flightglobal}}
= Commercial services =
In January 2023, the Aalto HAPS company was set up by Airbus to sell its mobile connectivity and earth observation services.{{cite news |url= https://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com/news/drones-air-taxis/airbus-brands-stratospheric-drone-zephyr-business-as-aalto.html |title= Airbus brands stratospheric drone business as Aalto |author= Ben Sampson |date= 23 January 2023 |work= Aerospace testing international}}
In June 2024, a Japanese consortium led by NTT Docomo and Space Compass committed to invest USD$100m in AALTO to commercialise connectivity HAPS services in Asia, targeting a 2026 introduction.{{cite press release |url= https://www.aaltohaps.com/news/ntt-docomo-and-space-compass-partners-with-airbus-on-haps-committing-to-a-usd-100-million-investment-in-aalto |date= 3 June 2024 |title= NTT DOCOMO and Space Compass partners with Airbus on HAPS, committing to a USD$100 million investment in AALTO |publisher= AALTO}}
Design
= Zephyr 3 =
The {{cvt|12|m}} wide aircraft had a carbon composite frame to weigh {{cvt|12|kg}}, and 1 kW of solar cells powering five motors.
= Zephyr 6 =
The carbon fiber Zephyr 6 has a {{cvt|18|m}} span and weighs 30–34 kg (70 lb) for a 2 kg (4.5 lb) payload.
Amorphous silicon solar cells from Unisolar recharge lithium-sulphur batteries from Sion Corporation with twice the energy density of the best alternative, lithium polymer batteries.
Launched by hand, it can reach 18 km (60,000 ft).
The first version had a battery capacity of 3 kW·h, driving two propellers.{{cite web |last=Bush |first=Steve |title=Inside Qinetiq's Zephyr solar powered plane |url=https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/research-news/process-rd/inside-qinetiqs-zephyr-solar-powered-plane-2007-09/ |work=Electronics weekly |date=28 September 2007}}
= Zephyr 7 =
Zephyr 7 was larger, at 53 kg,{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10742411 | work=BBC News | title=Wing-to-tail guide to Zephyr, the 'eternal' plane | date=23 July 2010}} and capable of a maximum altitude between 20 and 21 km,{{Cite web |url=http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/isr/2016/02/17/british-mod-acquires-solar-powered-zephyr-uav/80513364/ |title = British MoD Acquires Solar-Powered Zephyr UAV |date = 17 February 2016}} it required five ground crew to launch, as opposed to three previously for the Zephyr 6.{{cite news |last=Goodier |first=Rob |title= Solar Plane Aims for New Record: 3 Months Aloft Without a Pilot or Fuel |url= https://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/drones/how-to/a5914/solar-plane-zephyr-uav-record/d |work=Popular mechanics |date=7 July 2010}}
= Zephyr 8/S =
Designed to fly at {{cvt|65,000|ft|km|order=flip}} for more than a month, the {{cvt|25|m}} wide Zephyr 8 is 30% lighter and can lift 50% more batteries than the Zephyr 7.{{cite press release |url= https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2016-02-united-kingdom-ministry-of-defence-places-order-for-two-solar |title=United Kingdom Ministry of Defence places order for two solar-powered Airbus Zephyr 8s |publisher=Airbus |date= 18 February 2016}}
It weighs 60 kg, 40% of which are batteries ({{#expr:60*0.4}} kg), and the 5 kg payload can transmit video with a 50 cm resolution from above 20 km.
They should be able to operate year-round between 40 degrees North and South, while winter operation gets more difficult at higher latitudes.
It used Amprius lithium-ion batteries with silicon nanowire anodes for a 435 Wh/kg specific energy up from 300–320 Wh/kg.{{cite news |url= http://aviationweek.com/future-aerospace/record-breaking-zephyr-s-battery-holds-evtol-potential |title= Record-Breaking Zephyr's Battery Holds eVTOL Potential |date= 13 December 2018 |author= Graham Warwick |work= Aviation Week & Space Technology}} Solar cells are high-efficiency, lightweight, and flexible inverted metamorphic multi-junction epitaxial lift-off GaAs sheets manufactured by MicroLink Devices, with specific power exceeding 1,500 W/kg and areal powers greater than 350 W/m2.{{Cite press release |author= MicroLink Devices |title= MicroLink Devices Powers Successful Stratospheric Flight of Airbus Defence and Space Zephyr S HAPS Solar Aircraft |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/microlink-devices-powers-successful-stratospheric-flight-of-airbus-defence-and-space-zephyr-s-haps-solar-aircraft-300732214.html |date= Oct 17, 2018}}
One Zephyr can replace 250 cell phone towers.{{cite web |url= https://www.airbus.com/en/products-services/defence/uas/uas-solutions/zephyr |title= Zephyr |publisher= Airbus}} It can be used to perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) with a wide visual payload coverage of 20×30 km (12.4×18.6 mi) and can be equipped with radar, LIDAR and infrared technologies.
Endurance is targeted for up to 200–300 days.
An 8 kg (17.6 lb) mobile connectivity payload can serve up to 100,000 people on the ground.
A 5 kg Airbus-developed Opaz optical sensor can deliver 18 cm-resolution imagery.
Specifications
| class="wikitable"
|+ Airbus-QinetiQ Zephyr{{cite web |url= https://aviationsmilitaires.net/v3/kb/aircraft/show/2654/airbus-qinetiq-zephyr |title= Airbus-QinetiQ Zephyr |work= AviationsMilitaires.net}} ! Model !! Span !! Weight !! Ceiling !! Endurance !! Payload |
| Zephyr 4
| 12 m (39 ft) || 17 kg (37 lb) ||| 9 140 m (30 000 ft) || 6 h || |
|---|
| Zephyr 5
| 16 m (52 ft) || 31 kg (68 lb) || 11 000 m (36 000 ft) || 18 h || |
| Zephyr 6
| 18 m (59 ft) || 30 kg (66 lb) || 18 300 m (60 000 ft) || 87 h || 2 kg (4.4 lb) |
| Zephyr 7
| 22,5 m (74 ft) || 53 kg (117 lb) || 21 000 m (69 000 ft) || 336 h || 5 kg (11 lb) |
| Zephyr 8/S
| 25 m (82 ft) || 62-65 kg (137-143 lb) || {{cvt|76,100|ft|order=flip}} || 624 h || 5 kg (11 lb) |
| Zephyr T
| 32 m (105 ft) || 145 kg (320 lb) || || || 20 kg (44 lb) |
Accidents and incidents
{{as of|2022|August|}}, three hull losses have been reported:
- March 2019, Wyndham, Western Australia{{cite web |title=In-flight break-up involving Airbus Zephyr unmanned aerial vehicle, near Wyndham Airport, Western Australia, on 28 September 2019 |url=https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2019/aair/ao-2019-056/ |publisher=Australian Transport Safety Bureau |date= 28 Sep 2020}}
- 28 September 2019, Wyndham, Western Australia, during the first flight after the first incident in March 2019{{Cite web|url= https://www.9news.com.au/national/news-wa-outback-aviation-incident-linked-to-uk-ministry-of-defence/9419a3a8-532a-4804-921b-8b492b8c068a |title = Outback aviation incident linked to UK Ministry of Defence |work= 9News |date= 12 Apr 2019}}
- 19 August 2022, Arizona, just before breaking the record for the longest flight of any aircraft (a total of 64 days){{cn|date=June 2024}}
See also
{{Portal|Renewable energy|Aviation}}
- NASA Pathfinder (First flew in June 1983)
- NASA Centurion (First flight 10 November 1998)
- NASA/AeroVironment Helios Prototype (First flight 8 September 1999)
- Facebook Aquila (First flight 28 June 2016)
- SoftBank/AeroVironment HAPSMobile (First flight 11 September 2019)
- BAE Systems PHASA-35 (First flight 17 February 2020)
- Solar-powered aircraft
Notes and references
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.airbus.com/en/products-services/defence/uas/uas-solutions/zephyr}}
- {{cite news |url= http://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com/news.php?NewsID=92195 |title= Zephyr S high-altitude persistent drone could achieve 100-day flight during tests |date= 17 July 2018 |magazine= Aerospace Testing International |author= Ben Sampson}}
{{Qinetiq}}
{{Photovoltaics}}
Category:2000s British experimental aircraft
Category:Solar-powered aircraft
Category:Unmanned military aircraft of the United Kingdom