Non-Subscriber Extract
QinetiQ reveals details of Zephyr UAV's record flight
By Andrew White
13 September 2007
Zephyr, the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) and QinetiQ's High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), has completed a record 54-hour flight complete with a camera payload, as it bids to become the first system to provide 'persistent' operational support to UK forces.
Conducted at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico in July, tests saw the 30 kg UAV complete "two day and night cycles" at an altitude of 58,355 ft, using its 18 m wingspan - coated with sheets of amorphous silicon arrays - to generate solar power, QinetiQ revealed.
A second test saw Zephyr complete a 33-hour flight at an altitude of 52,000 ft. Tests proved a number of recent modifications made by QinetiQ designed to increase Zephyr's efficiency, including new solar arrays from United Solar Ovonic; Sion Power batteries; a new solar charger; and QinetiQ's bespoke autopilot system. During dark hours, Zephyr is powered by rechargeable lithium-sulphur batteries.
The successful completion of the test marks the end of the MoD's research programme for the project and signals its transition to an equipment programme, QinetiQ's Zephyr business development director, Paul Davey, told Jane's.