£4.3m ($5.6m) Star Trek-style Zephyr S has a wingspan of 22.5m (74ft)
Aircraft uses solar power during the day and lithium ion batteries
It can reach heights of 70,000 ft, twice that of commercial planes
It will be used by Britain's military to track terrorist targets worldwide


A solar-powered spy drone that can sit in the sky for 45 days at a time is to become the latest futuristic kit to be given to Britain’s special forces.
Described as a ‘psuedo-satellite’, the cutting-edge drone can fly at more than 70,000ft – twice the altitude of a commercial airliner – so high that it is not affected by the weather.
The £4.3 million ($5.6m) Star Trek-style Zephyr S will be used by the elite forces to track terror targets worldwide


It flies by day on solar power which also recharges its lithium-sulphur batteries to power it by night.
With a wingspan of 22.5m (74 feet), it can be launched by four military personnel on their shoulders.

It can then be operated from anywhere in the world, using communication satellites to relay commands to the aircraft.
If satellites are not available, special forces soldiers will use a control station to fly it over a range of up to 400km (250 miles).
Elite units will then use the camera on the aircraft to monitor ground movement.
Its antennae provides a communications platform for the furthest reaches of the globe.


The aircraft's antennae provides a communications platform for the furthest reaches of the globe (pictured), with elite units monitoring the feed for ground movements

Sophisticated and lightweight, it has been said to resemble a Klingon Bird of Prey spaceship out of Star Trek.
British engineers at Airbus Group in Farnborough, came up with the radical design.
Full details of the unmanned aircraft cannot be revealed for security reasons.
Its name has been removed from Ministry of Defence documents – with a review describing it as an ‘investment in advanced high-altitude surveillance aircraft’.
But Defence Secretary Michael Fallon yesterday told the Daily Mail it was a ‘record-breaking kit’ that would help special forces deal with increased threats to Britain.
Announcing the MoD would order a third Zephyr drone for the special forces, Mr Fallon said: ‘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.
‘They are part of our plan for stronger and better defence, 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.’


Full details of the unmanned aircraft cannot be revealed for security reasons, but it is thought that the drones will play vital roles in tracking targets in the ground using high tech antennae and a 'record-breaking kit' for high altitude surveillance

An MoD statement said: ‘Referred to as a High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS), it performs more like a satellite than a conventional UAV.’
The order of a third drone is part of a £13-million contract with Airbus Defence and Space (ADS). The first two were ordered by the MoD in February.
Defence Equipment and Support Chief Executive, Tony Douglas, said: ‘Zephyr utilizes a wide range of innovative technologies with the aim of delivering a world leading disruptive capability.’
Trials on the drone will be held next year.





http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3743624/Solar-powered-drone-stay-air-45-DAYS-used-SAS-track-terrorists.html

Naija military procurement team will inflate this price with a 200% margin in ten yrs time when it will be termed "USED"

Good developmment

IMPREXXIVE!!!.......Bt let dem cme nd prove its worth by uxing it to track Boko Haram in Nigeria!

The whole world keeps advancing while Africans keeps praying to an invisible God to come down and solve their problems. No wonder we remain the laggard and shame of the world

Can it track buhari herdsmen?