The solar powered drone mission continues to circle above the US Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, as part demonstrating the solar powered drone's capability to fly a two week mission. Photo: QinetiQ

Zephyr, the solar-powered, high altitude long endurance (HALE) unmanned vehicle developed by QinetiQ has been flying for the past week, smashing a number of long-standing world records.

The solar powered drone mission continues above the US Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, as part demonstrating the solar powered drone’s capability to fly a two week mission. “By being able to remain over a location for weeks or months at a time, it can usefully deliver a host of practical and more affordable solutions to both civil and military customers” said Jon Saltmarsh, Zephyr Program Director at QinetiQ.

A Larger Zephyr

The current goal is to fly for a further week and prove Zephyr is the world’s first truly eternal plane, capable of providing a low-cost, persistent surveillance capability over months rather than days. Potential applications include earth observation and communications relay in support of a range of defense, security and commercial requirements.

Unlike conventional manned or unmanned aircraft now being operated, Zephyr does not need to return to base at regular intervals for re-fuelling or servicing which also helps minimize the logistical supply chain and extend its operational capability.

Around 50% larger than the previous Zephyr, technical changes now mean it has a 22.5m wingspan to accommodate more batteries that are combined with a totally new integrated power management system. The entirely new aerodynamic shape and high “T” tail also contribute to reduce drag and improve performance. The payload capacity will meet a number of key surveillance and communication requirements already demonstrated by Zephyr over the past three years. Zephyr’s ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre design also means it weighs in at just over 50Kg.

“The current Zephyr aircraft is a genuine breakthrough design, drawing on the latest technology and represents a massive leap forward in engineering excellence incorporating an entirely new wing design.” Saltmarsh explained. Launched by hand, the aircraft flies by day on solar power delivered by amorphous silicon solar arrays no thicker than sheets of paper that cover the aircraft’s wings. These are also used to recharge the lithium-sulphur batteries, supplied by Sion Power Inc, which are used to power the aircraft by night. Together they provide an extremely high power to weight ratio on a continuous day/night cycle, thereby delivering persistent on-station capabilities.

Claiming the World Endurance Record for UAVs

On July 23, 2010 Zephyr successfully landed after 14 days (336 hours) and 21 minutes flying over Arizona.  and is now awaiting official confirmation of its world record status. Following the flight, QinetiQ is claiming three world records for the Zephyr:

• the absolute duration record for an Unmanned Air Vehicle – being filed at 336 hrs / 22 minutes
• the duration record for a UAV (in the U/1.c / 50-500Kg category) – time as above
• the absolute altitude record for a UAV (in the above category) – being filed at 70,740ft (21,561m)

This record far exceeds the unofficial world record for longest duration unmanned flight of 82 hours, 37 minutes set in 2008 and already held by Zephyr, and is well in excess of the current official world record of 30 hours 24 minutes set by Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4A Global Hawk on 22 March 2001. Upon landing, plans to claim the world record for HALE UAV flight endurance. The company invited the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the world air sports federation, to oversee the flight and an FAI Official has been monitoring progress at the Yuma Proving Ground.

QinetiQ was awarded $45 million by the U.S. Navy for the delivery of seven Zephyrs, QinetiQ will produce the Zephyrs at Farnborough, in the United Kingdom. The seven aircraft are expected to be delivered win 2014.

Zephyr prepared for its two-week mission, in July 2010, when the HALE drone has broke the world record for endurance flight of an unmanned aircraft. Photo: QinetiQ

07/23/2010 Update: QinetiQ to land its Zephyr solar powered aircraft

QinetiQ will today bring Zephyr, its solar powered high-altitude long endurance (HALE) Unmanned Air System (UAS) back to earth after two weeks in the air, smashing a number of long-standing official and unofficial world records.

Zephyr was launched on 09 July and is currently still flying above the US Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. Today Zephyr will have been aloft for 14 nights continuously, achieving the objective of the trial and setting a number of performance and altitude records. At this point QinetiQ’s Zephyr team in Yuma will bring the aircraft back to earth.

To Read The Full Press Release from QinetiQ

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The solar powered drone mission continues to circle above the US Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, as part demonstrating the solar powered drone's capability to fly a two week mission. Photo: QinetiQ

Zephyr, the solar-powered, high altitude long endurance (HALE) unmanned vehicle developed by QinetiQ has been flying for the past week, smashing a number of long-standing world records.

The solar powered drone mission continues above the US Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, as part demonstrating the solar powered drone’s capability to fly a two week mission. “By being able to remain over a location for weeks or months at a time, it can usefully deliver a host of practical and more affordable solutions to both civil and military customers” said Jon Saltmarsh, Zephyr Program Director at QinetiQ.

A Larger Zephyr

The current goal is to fly for a further week and prove Zephyr is the world’s first truly eternal plane, capable of providing a low-cost, persistent surveillance capability over months rather than days. Potential applications include earth observation and communications relay in support of a range of defense, security and commercial requirements.

Unlike conventional manned or unmanned aircraft now being operated, Zephyr does not need to return to base at regular intervals for re-fuelling or servicing which also helps minimize the logistical supply chain and extend its operational capability.

Around 50% larger than the previous Zephyr, technical changes now mean it has a 22.5m wingspan to accommodate more batteries that are combined with a totally new integrated power management system. The entirely new aerodynamic shape and high “T” tail also contribute to reduce drag and improve performance. The payload capacity will meet a number of key surveillance and communication requirements already demonstrated by Zephyr over the past three years. Zephyr’s ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre design also means it weighs in at just over 50Kg.

“The current Zephyr aircraft is a genuine breakthrough design, drawing on the latest technology and represents a massive leap forward in engineering excellence incorporating an entirely new wing design.” Saltmarsh explained. Launched by hand, the aircraft flies by day on solar power delivered by amorphous silicon solar arrays no thicker than sheets of paper that cover the aircraft’s wings. These are also used to recharge the lithium-sulphur batteries, supplied by Sion Power Inc, which are used to power the aircraft by night. Together they provide an extremely high power to weight ratio on a continuous day/night cycle, thereby delivering persistent on-station capabilities.

Claiming the World Endurance Record for UAVs

On July 23, 2010 Zephyr successfully landed after 14 days (336 hours) and 21 minutes flying over Arizona.  and is now awaiting official confirmation of its world record status. Following the flight, QinetiQ is claiming three world records for the Zephyr:

• the absolute duration record for an Unmanned Air Vehicle – being filed at 336 hrs / 22 minutes
• the duration record for a UAV (in the U/1.c / 50-500Kg category) – time as above
• the absolute altitude record for a UAV (in the above category) – being filed at 70,740ft (21,561m)

This record far exceeds the unofficial world record for longest duration unmanned flight of 82 hours, 37 minutes set in 2008 and already held by Zephyr, and is well in excess of the current official world record of 30 hours 24 minutes set by Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4A Global Hawk on 22 March 2001. Upon landing, plans to claim the world record for HALE UAV flight endurance. The company invited the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the world air sports federation, to oversee the flight and an FAI Official has been monitoring progress at the Yuma Proving Ground.

QinetiQ was awarded $45 million by the U.S. Navy for the delivery of seven Zephyrs, QinetiQ will produce the Zephyrs at Farnborough, in the United Kingdom. The seven aircraft are expected to be delivered win 2014.

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Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak Approves an initial buy of 20 F-35A Stealth Fighters for $2.75 Billion. Photo: Lockheed Martin

Israel will be the first country to receive the F-35 through the United States government’s Foreign Military Sales process. beginning in 2015.

In August 2010 Israel’s defense minister Lt. General (Ret) Ehud Barak has given the go-ahead to a $2.75 billion purchase of 20 fifth Generation, stealth  F-35I Lightning II fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. About a month later, on September 19, the Israeli government approved the procurement authorizing local currency budgeting necessary for the preparation of infrastructure. On October 7, Israel’s Ministry of Defense Director General (Maj. Gen. Ret.) Udi Shani signed the Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the procurement of the F-35 aircraft. The acquisition of the planes will be funded by U.S. military aid, over eight years.  The new fighter will be provided along with an integral support package, sustaining the aircraft through its service life. The decision has yet to pass the approval of the Israeli government. The purchase will be funded by U.S. military aid to Israel. Israel originally planned to initially buy of 25 aircraft. The current decision trims this initial buy by five aircraft. According to Israel MOD sources, the flyaway cost of these aircraft will be $96 million, but this cost reflects only the net price of the platform.

The expenses including the preparation of the new squadron, initial infrastructure, logistical and support package is expected to eventually exceed $150 million per plane. Given the additional integration cost of locally developed Israeli systems, planned for integration into this highly complex aircraft, the cost of future batches is expected to rise significantly for the fully equipped F-35Is in following years. Israel’s future plans are to buy 75 F-35Is. Furthermore, for these enhancement and adaptations Israel may have to rely on local currency funding, unlike the aircraft acquisition program that will be funded entirely by the annual U.S. aid amounting over $2 billion per year.

Israeli pilots will begin training on the new aircraft by 2014 and the first aircraft are expected to arrive in Israel by 2015. The first squadron could become operational in less than two years at one of the Israel Air Force (IAF) southern air bases.

The initial F-35I will represent standard F-35A models. However, the F-35I acquisition agreement is opening opportunities for the installation of Israeli systems in future production batches. These opportunities will also open the aircraft for marketing Israeli systems to other air forces, reflecting an opportunity worth several billions of dollars for the local industry. Gen. Udi Shani has stated that the acquisition agreement also includes a framework for buyback purchasing from the Israeli industry worth $4 billion. The introduction of Israeli components, systems and technologies into the world’s newest fighter plane will also open a potential market opportunity worth about $5 billion among the aircraft users. Read the full article on today’s Defense-Update.com.

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Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak Approves an initial buy of 20 F-35A Stealth Fighters for $2.75 Billion. Photo: Lockheed Martin

Israel’s defense minister Lt. General (Ret) Ehud Barak has given the go-ahead to a $2.75 billion purchase of 20 fifth Generation, stealth  F-35I Lightning II fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. The new fighter will be provided along with an integral support package, sustaining the aircraft through its service life. The decision has yet to pass the approval of the Israeli government. The purchase will be funded by U.S. military aid to Israel. Israel originally planned to initially buy of 25 aircraft. The current decision trims this initial buy by five aircraft. According to Israel MOD sources, the flyaway cost of these aircraft will be $96 million, but this cost reflects only the net price of the platform.

The expenses including the preparation of the new squadron, initial infrastructure, logistical and support package is expected to eventually exceed $150 million per plane. Given the additional integration cost of locally developed Israeli systems, planned for integration into this highly complex aircraft, the cost of future batches is expected to rise significantly for the fully equipped F-35Is in following years. Israel’s future plans are to buy 75 F-35Is. Furthermore, for these enhancement and adaptations Israel may have to rely on local currency funding, unlike the aircraft acquisition program that will be funded entirely by the annual U.S. aid amounting over $2 billion per year.

Israeli pilots will begin training on the new aircraft by 2014 and the first aircraft are expected to arrive in Israel by 2015. The first squadron could become operational in less than two years at one of the Israel Air Force (IAF) southern air bases.

The initial F-35I will represent standard F-35A models. However, the F-35I acquisition agreement is opening opportunities for the installation of Israeli systems in future production batches. These opportunities will also open the aircraft for marketing Israeli systems to other air forces, reflecting an opportunity worth several billions of dollars for the local industry. Maj. General (ret) Udi Shani, Director Israel of Israel MOD has stated that the acquisition agreement also includes a framework for buyback purchasing from the Israeli industry worth $4 billion. The introduction of Israeli components, systems and technologies into the world’s newest fighter plane will also open a potential market opportunity worth about $5 billion among the aircraft users. Read the full article on today’s Defense-Update.com.

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Taranis, the British new UCAV concept demonstrator named after the Celtic god of thunder, will take to the air next year (2011). Photo: British MOD

The British Ministry of Defence (MOD) unveiled today the Taranis Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) prototype at Warton, in Lancashire, U.K. MOD has invested £143 million pounds in this concept demonstrator. Taranis, named after the Celtic god of thunder, will take to the air next year (2011), testing autonomous, stealthy UCAV technologies leading the way for potential development of a British UCAV platform toward the end of the decade (2018-2020). These capabilities could be utilized in the development of future autonomous, uninhibited strike platforms capable of precisely striking targets at long range, even in another continent. The program is lead by MOD, and supported by a British industry team including the platform developer BAE Systems, engine manufacturer Rolls Royce, avionics systems provider GE Aviation and software application developer QinetiQ.

“Taranis has been three and a half years in the making and is the product of more than a million man-hours. It represents a significant step forward in this country’s fast-jet capability” said Nigel Whitehead, Group managing director of BAE Systems’ Programmes & Support business, “This technology is key to sustaining a strong industrial base and to maintain the UK’s leading position as a centre for engineering excellence and innovation.”

Taranis is a key program in the UK MOD’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Project Team which has replaced the previous Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicle (Experimental) Programme [SUAV(E)] and Future Offensive Air System (FOAS) projects.

Read more on the Taranis program, and view larger, close-up photos – on defense-update.com

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