Airbus delays UK Zephyr HAPS flight tests
COVID-19 restrictions have forced Airbus Defence and Space to postpone Zephyr High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) Operational Concept Demonstrator (OCD) flight trials, which were originally scheduled for summer 2020.
The cause of delay, for the UK MoD sponsored flight tests, was confirmed on 4 August by Baroness Annabel Goldie in a written parliamentary exchange. She also revealed that Airbus Defence and Space have ‘implemented improvements’ to the system at a manufacturing level, following findings shared with them by investigators reviewing ‘unfortunate incidents’.
Airbus is currently planning to restart flights but a firm date to do so has not yet been set, according to the
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
Read this Article
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 2 free stories per week
- Daily news round-up email service
- Access to all Decisive Edge email newsletters
Unlimited Access
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
- Unlimited access to all published premium news
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official]()
FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official
Prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems recently passed through MOSA conformance trials and flight tests.
-
![Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities]()
Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities
Funds for the second phase of this effort will be allocated in the US Department of Defense (DoD) FY2026 budget request.
-
![Exail to supply Caméléon unmanned demining robots to Belgium Armed Forces]()
Exail to supply Caméléon unmanned demining robots to Belgium Armed Forces
The Caméléon LG UGV includes remote operational capabilities and real-time hazard detection.
