Ron5 wrote:Looks like one good sneeze and it would all fall apart.
It does a bit, but surviving for 25 days at 70,000ft is quite impressive.
Whats interesting now is why Airbus is building 4 for themselves, not sure if they're going to be doing a leased service, further trials for their own ends or if they're building a number as they're really confident of some sales. I don't expect we'll hear much at all about the trials at Woomera (presuming that is its destination in Australia).
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RE: the above. Has there been any switching of the orders, between the two sizes? And which one is Airbus building into "ready" stock?
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
No mention of the size, but there hasn't been an announcement about building Zephyr T so I think its safe to assume that they're all Zephyr S. I suspect it wouldn't make much sense to build a T until the initial tests on the S have been undertaken. But building 4 for themselves is a vote of confidence in it.
Airbus decided to build some into own inventory... and now takers are coming out of the woodwork:
"The US Army Futures Command is interested in buying Airbus' Zephyr S HAPS system. The new group is the Army's fourth command and is tasked with driving the service into the future to achieve clear overmatch in future conflicts. The command wants to use the high-altitude pseudo-satellite for a variety of missions, including as military, security and civil missions and acting as a communication hub. The Zephyr is built out of carbon fibre composite materials and is solar powered. The drone set the world record for flight endurance in July after staying aloft using solar cells for 25 days 23h 57min. Willie Nelson, the Futures Command's director, told Flight Global “I think they are an incredible capability that we should continue to invest [science and technology] dollars into research and development". The UK has currently three Zephyrs on order. They will provide British troops with battlefield intelligence and surveillance. The US Army currently has no funded program to acquire high-altitude UAVs." from DID of today
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
I suspect that flying the Zephyr around White Sands has rather got the US military's attention. Funding the purchase and operation of 2 or 3 of them for trials purposes is chump change for them. I rather suspect they'll be leasing or making a buy in the next year or 2. Probably after they see the data from the trials in Woomera.
More details here...most of the senior team at Prismatic are from the QinetiQ Zephyr team or from SSTL. Looks very serious...they're based in Farnborough as well, looks like that will be a hub for the solar powered UAV industry.
With a 15kg payload and a planned mission duration of 1 year, this could also be the impetus for Airbus to move forward with the Zephyr T, with its 20kg payload, and to keep pushing the Zephyr flight duration onwards and upwards. A bit of healthy competition could really move things forward even faster. And thats really good news. No news on Zephyr in Australia, like the Taranis flight testing there I suspect we'll hear little for a long time...
Timmymagic wrote:Airbus to move forward with the Zephyr T, with its 20kg payload
Have there been any takers for the 'base' model that they were producing into inventory under their own funding?
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
ArmChairCivvy wrote:Have there been any takers for the 'base' model that they were producing into inventory under their own funding?
None announced as far as I can tell. But if Airbus were confident enough to build some for stock....I suspect the Australians and US will be attending and following the trials at Woomera very closely. I'm surprised now its under the Airbus banner that the French haven't come calling. They would make an awful lot of sense over Mali and the C.A.R.
Airbus did also talk about a leased service as well, we might see them on some science missions in due course.
ArmChairCivvy wrote:Have there been any takers for the 'base' model that they were producing into inventory under their own funding?
"Marks the start of various Zephyr flight campaigns to be undertaken from the site with different customers"
One is definitely the UK. I wouldn't be surprised if Australia is one as well. Zephyr would be ideal for patrolling/operating in the north and monitoring Australias colossal maritime eez up there. It might have had something to do with the placement of Airbus' base.
Timmymagic wrote:various Zephyr flight campaigns to be undertaken from the site with different customers"
One is definitely the UK. I wouldn't be surprised if Australia is one as well.
The wording almost makes me think that the ones owned directly are for 'hire'?
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
ArmChairCivvy wrote:The wording almost makes me think that the ones owned directly are for 'hire'?
Yes that's definitely the case. Airbus have mentioned that they will be operating some themselves as a leased service. I suspect that Australia will observe the trials closely, but will actually buy a couple. Tie them in with the JORN and they make a very interesting surveillance capability for their far north. Wyndham is obviously perfectly sited environmentally for further Zephyr trials. But is almost perfect for an Australian service use as well.
67,000ft operating altitude, 90 day flight duration, 149kg total weight with a 25kg payload. Based in Bridgwater, Somerset at the old Facebook Aquila drone project building. Apparently the projects aren't related, but I suspect some of the people involved are from Zephyr..OS own 51% of the company.
And it looks like they're already flying a test article for launch tests.
For Double Decker Bus measurement fans its wingspan is longer than 3 placed end to end...no confirmation on sausages or rashers of bacon at present....
And in LEO satellites,
"UK now leading world in niche field of HAPS super-drones #avgeek"
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
ArmChairCivvy wrote:Unread postby ArmChairCivvy » 12 Feb 2019, 13:17
And in LEO satellites,
"UK now leading world in niche field of HAPS super-drones #avgeek"
This, SSTL and the Orbex small rocket facility in the Cairngorms really works out as a very useful capability to the UK, which has come out of nowhere in the last few years. Given the Chinese clear interest in anti-satellite capabilities the NRO in the US is getting VERY interested in small, low cost satellites...which is good news for the likes of SSTL who really are the world leaders.
Competition for Zephyr is heating up, and thats always a good thing. Hopefully this will force Airbus' hand on developing Zephyr T. They're going to need it to compete with Phasa 35.
Prismatic's Phasa 35, developed with BAE, quarter scale test vehicle has gone airborne at Warton. Might struggle for sunshine around these parts...
Timmymagic wrote:Given the Chinese clear interest in anti-satellite capabilities the NRO in the US is getting VERY interested in small, low cost satellites
India just bumped one of their own off (what idiots, as if there isn't enough of space rubble up there already )
Timmymagic wrote: Might struggle for sunshine around these parts...
As long as there is enough power to reach the operating altitude...
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
ArmChairCivvy wrote:As long as there is enough power to reach the operating altitude...
There is some truth in that, but its also fair to say solar powered UAV's struggle in higher latitudes. Development of solar arrays and batteries, plus more efficient motors and designs will bridge that gap somewhat but at the moment its still a significant operating restriction.
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)