News archive: Aalto Zephyr | Airframer

2 September

The company expects the battery to become commercially available in Q4 2026.

Amprius develops battery cell reaching 500 Wh/kg

The second-generation SiCore cell reaches 500 Wh/kg on standard manufacturing equipment, opening a route to volume production for long-endurance aviation platforms.

16 February

ReleaseAALTO targets Australia for Zephyr’s next operating site, launching call to national payload industry

14 October

ReleaseAirbus streamlines its tactical uncrewed aerial system offering

22 July

ReleaseAmprius ships high-performance SiCore cells to multiple drone customers from U.S. pilot line

21 May

ReleaseAALTO Zephyr achieves world-record 67-day flight powered by Amprius ultra-high-energy batteries

3 February

ReleaseZephyr completes 13 days of stratospheric flight and testing, launching operations from Kenya base

15 July

ReleaseAALTO achieves milestone HAPS regulation, with Design Organisation Approval from UK Civil Aviation Authority

18 April

ReleaseAmprius secures multiple purchase orders from AALTO for SiMaxx 450 Wh/kg high-energy cells to continue record-breaking flights

15 November

ReleaseZephyr High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) achieves connectivity in trial conducted by Airbus and NTT DOCOMO

10 November

A cryogenic K-Shear IEPE accelerometer from Kistler is part of the flight test equipment of Airbus HAPS Zephyr for persistent operation in the stratosphere.

Kistler supplies measurement technology for Zephyr testing

The Zephyr programme by Airbus has taken delivery of two accelerometers from Kistler, which will be used during ground testing of the propulsion systems and during flight testing for the instrumentation system.

21 October

Airbus Zephyr S lands after completing a series of test flights in the US.

Solar-powered Zephyr completes stratospheric testing

Airbus’ solar-powered Zephyr could revolutionise disaster management. It uses sunlight to fly and recharge its batteries so can stay airborne for months at a time.

6 May

A recent flight demonstration in North Dakota using the uAvionix SkyLine C2 infrastructure and ping200X transponder.

uAvionix claims world first with certified drone transponder

Airbus SE's High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) flight testing article, Zephyr, is first to use a ground-breaking transponder produced by uAvionix. The device is expected to find applications in drones and general aviation.

5 January

ReleaseuAvionix announces launch customer Airbus Zephyr for ping200X and truFYX

3 December

ReleaseThe Airbus Zephyr, Solar High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) concludes a successful new test flight campaign in Arizona, USA

31 October

ReleaseQinetiQ's Zephyr solar-powered UAV shatters flight endurance record using Advanced Composites Group's MTM®45-1 prepregs

23 July

The Airframer Bulletin

Amprius develops battery cell reaching 500 Wh/kg

ReleaseAALTO targets Australia for Zephyr’s next operating site, launching call to national payload industry

ReleaseAirbus streamlines its tactical uncrewed aerial system offering

ReleaseAmprius ships high-performance SiCore cells to multiple drone customers from U.S. pilot line

ReleaseAALTO Zephyr achieves world-record 67-day flight powered by Amprius ultra-high-energy batteries

ReleaseZephyr completes 13 days of stratospheric flight and testing, launching operations from Kenya base

ReleaseAALTO achieves milestone HAPS regulation, with Design Organisation Approval from UK Civil Aviation Authority

ReleaseAmprius secures multiple purchase orders from AALTO for SiMaxx 450 Wh/kg high-energy cells to continue record-breaking flights

ReleaseZephyr High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) achieves connectivity in trial conducted by Airbus and NTT DOCOMO

Kistler supplies measurement technology for Zephyr testing

Solar-powered Zephyr completes stratospheric testing

uAvionix claims world first with certified drone transponder

ReleaseuAvionix announces launch customer Airbus Zephyr for ping200X and truFYX

ReleaseThe Airbus Zephyr, Solar High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) concludes a successful new test flight campaign in Arizona, USA

ReleaseAirbus Partners with Amprius, leader in high energy density battery technology

ReleaseAmprius' silicon nanowire lithium ion batteries power Airbus Zephyr S HAPS solar aircraft

ReleaseAirbus celebrates opening of the world's first Zephyr Solar High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite operating site

ReleaseMicroLink Devices powers successful stratospheric flight of Airbus Defence and Space Zephyr S HAPS solar aircraft

ReleaseAirbus DS and Sion Power enter into collaborative agreement

ReleaseBritish composite manufacturer collaborates on Qinetiq's record breaking UAV flight

ReleaseQinetiQ's Zephyr solar-powered UAV shatters flight endurance record using Advanced Composites Group's MTM®45-1 prepregs

ReleaseAfter 14 nights in the air, QinetiQ prepares to land its Zephyr solar powered unmanned aircraft

ReleaseQinetiQ's Zephyr solar powered unmanned aircraft soars to new world records

ReleaseFly weight actuators from Muirhead Aerospace pack a punch aboard high altitude, long endurance aircraft

ReleaseThales contributes to UAV world endurance record

The Airframer Bulletin

Amprius develops battery cell reaching 500 Wh/kg

ReleaseAALTO targets Australia for Zephyr’s next operating site, launching call to national payload industry

ReleaseAirbus streamlines its tactical uncrewed aerial system offering

ReleaseAmprius ships high-performance SiCore cells to multiple drone customers from U.S. pilot line

ReleaseAALTO Zephyr achieves world-record 67-day flight powered by Amprius ultra-high-energy batteries

ReleaseZephyr completes 13 days of stratospheric flight and testing, launching operations from Kenya base

ReleaseAALTO achieves milestone HAPS regulation, with Design Organisation Approval from UK Civil Aviation Authority

ReleaseAmprius secures multiple purchase orders from AALTO for SiMaxx 450 Wh/kg high-energy cells to continue record-breaking flights

ReleaseZephyr High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) achieves connectivity in trial conducted by Airbus and NTT DOCOMO

Kistler supplies measurement technology for Zephyr testing

Solar-powered Zephyr completes stratospheric testing

uAvionix claims world first with certified drone transponder

ReleaseuAvionix announces launch customer Airbus Zephyr for ping200X and truFYX

ReleaseThe Airbus Zephyr, Solar High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) concludes a successful new test flight campaign in Arizona, USA

ReleaseAirbus Partners with Amprius, leader in high energy density battery technology

ReleaseAmprius' silicon nanowire lithium ion batteries power Airbus Zephyr S HAPS solar aircraft

ReleaseAirbus celebrates opening of the world's first Zephyr Solar High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite operating site

ReleaseMicroLink Devices powers successful stratospheric flight of Airbus Defence and Space Zephyr S HAPS solar aircraft

ReleaseAirbus DS and Sion Power enter into collaborative agreement

ReleaseBritish composite manufacturer collaborates on Qinetiq's record breaking UAV flight

ReleaseQinetiQ's Zephyr solar-powered UAV shatters flight endurance record using Advanced Composites Group's MTM&reg;45-1 prepregs

ReleaseAfter 14 nights in the air, QinetiQ prepares to land its Zephyr solar powered unmanned aircraft

ReleaseQinetiQ's Zephyr solar powered unmanned aircraft soars to new world records

ReleaseFly weight actuators from Muirhead Aerospace pack a punch aboard high altitude, long endurance aircraft

ReleaseThales contributes to UAV world endurance record

ReleaseQinetiQ's Zephyr solar-powered UAV shatters flight endurance record using Advanced Composites Group's MTM®45-1 prepregs