{"id":50751,"date":"2023-11-13T16:48:47","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T16:48:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2023\/11\/13\/airbus-maker-of-long-flying-zephyr-launches-us-drone-business\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:55:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:55:59","slug":"airbus-maker-of-long-flying-zephyr-launches-us-drone-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/industry\/2023\/11\/13\/airbus-maker-of-long-flying-zephyr-launches-us-drone-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Airbus, maker of long-flying Zephyr, launches US drone business"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. defense division of European aerospace company Airbus said it launched a new business unit aimed at the surging market for military drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airbus U.S. Space and Defense<\/a> on Nov. 9 unveiled the creation of its uncrewed aircraft systems office, which will be led by Brian Zarchin, a retired U.S. Army aviator. The new group builds upon Airbus\u2019 previous success with its Zephyr drone, a solar-powered aircraft that stayed aloft for 64 days above 60,000 feet during testing over Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith ongoing great power competition, it\u2019s critical that we do our part to help deter threats and, in crisis or conflict, present our adversaries with multiple dilemmas,\u201d Zarchin said in a statement. \u201cOur new business line is laser-focused on helping the DoD solve its toughest UAS challenges, from surface to stratosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department of Defense is increasingly interested in unmanned aerial systems and their battlefield applications, including intelligence gathering, targeting assistance and ordnance delivery<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t