Product profile
Zephyr HAPS
Zephyr HAPS is AALTO solar-powered high-altitude platform station. It operates in the stratosphere for persistent communications, earth observation and sur...
Facts
- Company
- AALTO
- Product type
- uav
- Status
- active
- Website
- https://www.aaltohaps.com/zephyr-haps/
About Zephyr HAPS
Zephyr is a solar-powered fixed-wing aircraft designed to remain above 60,000 feet for extended missions. Solar arrays power the aircraft during daylight and charge batteries for overnight flight, keeping communications and observation payloads in the stratosphere above weather and commercial air traffic.
Payloads support direct-to-device connectivity, Earth observation and intelligence missions over selected operating areas. AALTO completed a flight lasting 67 days, six hours and 52 minutes in 2025 and is developing launch, control and service infrastructure for commercial operations. AALTO is an Airbus subsidiary.
Summary
Type: HAPS UAV
Core: Stratospheric endurance
Function: Communications
Audience: Defense
Specifications
- ceiling
- Above 18,300 m / 60,000 ft stratospheric operation
- endurance_profile
- Multi-month continuous flight target
- operational_environment
- Stratosphere above weather and conventional air traffic
- operational_role
- Solar HAPS aircraft for persistent stratospheric sensing and connectivity
- payload_options
- Earth observation and connectivity payloads, including customer and third-party payloads
- task_scope
- Earth observation, near-real-time video, connectivity, and persistent stratospheric services
- weight_kg
- Around 75 kg kg
- wingspan
- Around 25 m
Research, Articles and recent verified events
- AALTO and Telkomsel sign Indonesia Stratospace memorandum — 2026-03-02
- AALTO completes 67-day continuous Zephyr stratospheric flight — 2025-04-28
- AALTO connects a ground 4G device through Zephyr in Kenya — 2025-03-03
- AALTO completes first operational Zephyr flight from Kenya base — 2025-02-03
- AALTO appoints Hughes Boulnois chief executive — 2024-10-30
- AALTO secures UK CAA Design Organisation Approval — 2024-07-25
- AALTO announces conditional investment of up to $100 million — 2024-06-03