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Roundup: Britain orders third Zephyr-S unmanned aerial vehicle: MOD

Xinhua, August 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

It can fly at an altitude of up to 21,400 meters, stay airborne for 45 days and doesn't need an on-board crew, and is powered entirely by solar energy.

This latest piece of military wizardry is seen as the latest recruit to help deal with any threats to Britain, says the country's Ministry of Defense.

The MOD announced Wednesday it has ordered a third record-breaking, Zephyr-S Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), as part of a 17 million U.S. dollar contract with Airbus Defense and Space (ADS).

Zephyr-S is the latest version of a highly sophisticated series of ultra-lightweight UAVs, capable of flying at twice the altitude of a commercial airliner. Referred to as a High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS), it performs more like a satellite than a conventional UAV, says the MOD.

"Zephyr is a cutting edge, record-breaking piece of kit that will be capable of gathering constant, reliable information over vast geographical areas at a much greater level of detail than ever before," Britain's Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said Wednesday.

"They are part of our plan for stronger and better defense, backed by a budget that will rise each year of this decade. That means more ships, more aircraft, more troops available at readiness, better equipment for special forces, more being spent on cyber -- to deal with the increased threats to our country," he said.

The MOD said the third Zephyr-S will join the two the ministry previously ordered earlier this year. Built by ADS in Farnborough, home of the famous annual international air show, all three will form part of an Operational Concept Demonstrator (OCD) to assess Zephyr's capabilities and explore its potential for use by British armed forces and other government departments.

The MOD said the additional Zephyr-S will allow two airframes to be tested simultaneously and demonstrate operational handover to show that the capability could be sustained indefinitely.

The OCD trials, which will be held in 2017 when the first of the new Zephyrs make their maiden flights, will inform defense decisions around how best to provide next-generation battlefield intelligence to Britain's Armed Forces.

Tony Douglas, CEO of Britain's Defense Equipment and Support, said: "Zephyr utilizes a wide range of innovative technologies with the aim of delivering a world leading disruptive capability.

"Purchasing a third airframe demonstrates how the MOD can create a positive and collaborative partnership with industry, vital for both the UK economy and for our Armed Forces."

Zephyr is seen as filling a capability gap between satellites and UAVs, running exclusively on solar power as it flies above the weather and above commercial air traffic.

Replacing one conventional UAV with just one Zephyr would save 2,000 tons of fuel each year. Endit