{"id":30324,"date":"2015-09-09T16:36:45","date_gmt":"2015-09-09T16:36:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2015\/09\/09\/uk-mod-to-acquire-high-flying-zephyr-8-uavs\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:33:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:33:54","slug":"uk-mod-to-acquire-high-flying-zephyr-8-uavs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2015\/09\/09\/uk-mod-to-acquire-high-flying-zephyr-8-uavs\/","title":{"rendered":"UK MoD To Acquire High-Flying Zephyr 8 UAVs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>LONDON \u2014 Britain&#8217;s Ministry of Defense\u00a0will acquire three Airbus-built, solar-powered UAVs that\u00a0fly on the edge of space<span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> will\u00a0be acquired by Britain\u2019s Ministry of Defence<\/span>, the company said Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Zephyr 8 machines being supplied <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">to the British <\/span>by Airbus Defence and Space will be capable of flying at a height of about\u00a070,000 feet for up to three months, giving military customers the ability to conduct persistent surveillance or provide communications relays <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">roles <\/span>at a fraction of the cost of satellites or manned aircraft and for significantly longer than other unmanned platforms, company executives said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The British will use <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">be using <\/span>the potentially game-changing UAV\u2019s for operational capability demonstrations, including flying two of the machines at the same time, Zephyr \u00a0business development leader Steve Whitby told reporters during a briefing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two sides have inked a memorandum of understanding and are in final negotiations to complete the deal, Whitby said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Deliveries of the machines, which Airbus call High Altitude Pseudo-Satellites, are expected to take place over the next 15 months to 18 months.\u00a0The British have already conducted flight tests on an earlier, smaller version of the Zephyr\u00a0they acquired from Airbus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Zepyhr holds the world record for flight duration of 14 days and Whitby said the vehicle comfortably outperforms solar-powered rivals<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Zephyr&#8217;s batteries\u00a0are fueled by the sun during the day and stored energy is used during the night to power the machine&#8217;s two propellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new Zephyr 8 with its 28-meter\u00a0wingspan covered in solar panels is expected to fly for the first time next summer and is capable of carrying a 5-kilogram surveillance or communications payload.\u00a0A larger and better performing variant is already on the drawing board.\u00a0Known for the moment as Zepyhr 9, the vehicle could be ready for flight\u00a0in about two-and-a-half years,\u00a0said Airbus executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Zephyr <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">vehicle <\/span>is likely to figure in the work the MoD is doing to update its aging ISTAR asset base as part of the strategic defense and security review expected to be published by the end of the year.\u00a0Whitby said the British were one of several nations looking at the capabilities offered in the defense and security sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Airbus is discussing\u00a0with Singapore various launch and landing options for Zephyr including the use of an &#8220;enormous barge.&#8221;\u00a0 The two sides are\u00a0also looking at possible joint development of a Zephyr-specific maritime radar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The company is also in discussions\u00a0with the German military and police about\u00a0studying the communications capabilities of Zephyr and is engaged with the US Department of Defense and other agencies investigating possible use of the vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zephyr was originally developed by British company QinetiQ\u00a0before Airbus purchased the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Email:\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:achuter@defensenews.com\">achuter@defensenews.com<\/a><br\/> \u00a0<br\/> \u00a0\u00a0<br\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Three Airbus-built solar powered UAVs that fly on the edge of space will be acquired by Britain\u2019s Ministry of 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