View Full Version : MoD to buy high-flying solar planes
The UK Ministry of Defence is going to acquire some high-altitude "eternal planes".
The unmanned, solar-powered aircraft, known as Zephyrs, fly above the jet streams and will stay aloft for months on end.
Designed and built in Britain, the vehicles will carry small payloads that might consist of reconnaissance cameras or communications equipment.
The MoD is likely to buy two Zephyrs in the first instance.
Saw this on the BBC News site, who would control these assets.
racedo
2nd Feb 2016, 22:39
Got to be News Intentional after all they own "The Sun".:ugh:
Lima Juliet
2nd Feb 2016, 22:53
It's not the first time that the RAF have had Zephyrs...
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Ford_Zephyr_RAF_bomb_disposal_car_1.jpg/640px-Ford_Zephyr_RAF_bomb_disposal_car_1.jpg
:}:}
Danny42C
3rd Feb 2016, 07:30
I hope that prolonged experience with their "wheelbarrows" has not adversely affected their driving skills - they've dinged both front wings on the Zephyr already !
D.
CoffmanStarter
3rd Feb 2016, 08:58
Leon ... It's about time you changed your car mate :E
...so thats what they are going to do with the Air Cadet Vikings!:E
Lyneham Lad
3rd Feb 2016, 16:28
Also in the Times today.
UK drones will spy from the stratosphere (http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/defence/article4681057.ece?shareToken=82cc9e40f2ef6a1baa95f74801b4e8 ac)
brokenlink
3rd Feb 2016, 19:47
622 -how many Vikings will they have to bolt together then?
NorthernKestrel
4th Feb 2016, 09:09
Confirmed now - but reported back in September Royal Aeronautical Society | Insight Blog | Staying power ? UK superdrone targets three months aloft (http://aerosociety.com/News/Insight-Blog/3570/Staying-power-UK-superdrone-targets-three-months-aloft)
...When there was some frantic (MoD/industry) backpedalling as seemed the time wasn't right to release it then...
@ broken link..at least if they do, the paperwork will be right this time :cool:
LowObservable
4th Feb 2016, 18:48
That's Inspector Barlow's car!