The US Army is conducting altitude tests with a stratospheric unmanned aerial vehicle system (UAS).
According to a press release from Army Futures Command, the Positioning, Navigation, and Timing/Space (CFT) Multi-Purpose Team (CFT) is conducting a stratosphere test using a stratospheric UAS. super long Zephyr.
The maiden flight of 2022, which kicked off on June 15, demonstrated Zephyr’s energy storage, battery life, solar panel efficiency, and station holding capacity.
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During this flight, Zephyr completed a number of firsts, including the first flight into international airspace, the first flight over water, the longest continuous flight using satellite communication control, and the farthest demonstration from its launch point, during a commercial flight, -load rack. This flight has flown for a record number of days – 36 days so far – and is still flying over the Yuma Proving Ground.
Michael Monteleone, Director of APNT/Space CFT said: “Ultra-long endurance unmanned platforms have the potential to provide significant military capabilities and enhance confidence as part of the architecture. Army’s diverse multilayer architecture,” said Michael Monteleone, Director of APNT/Space CFT. “We have seen incredible progress in high-altitude platforms in recent years. This test allows us to build on that knowledge by demonstrating a wide variety of payloads, fully exploring the military utility of stratospheric operations, and modernizing the fields of deep sensing, Long-range targeting and flexible communication. “
A second Zephyr flight will launch in the coming weeks and cross the Pacific Ocean. This flight will demonstrate the prototype payload developed by Army Futures Command (AFC) across multiple operational commands and continue to communicate altitude requirements.
The Zephyr, developed by Airbus, is the first high-altitude UAS of its kind, offering durable and adaptable stratospheric longevity. This test was conducted in partnership with the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Task Force, the U.S. Army Aviation Program Executive Office, and with multiple U.S. Navy operational commanders. Another Exchange Agency (OTA), with T2S Solutions LLC as the integrator.
