Aircraft program
Unmanned, solar-powered stratospheric aircraft for scientific experiments, such as testing MACS-HAP aerial camera (Modular Aerial Camera System High Altitude Platform) or HAPSAR radar (High Altitude Platform Synthetic Aperture Radar) sensor systems. Formerly DLR HAPS Alpha. In development.
The aircraft as engineered: what it is built from, the systems it flies with, and its configuration — each box a theme.
Technical reference compiled with AI research; a value appears only where two independent research passes and a web fact-check agree. Gaps are deliberate.
Supplier geography and market analysis for this program — with an Analytics subscription.
Subscribe| Variant | Launch / first flight | Production end | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DLR HAP-alpha | 2018 / 2026 | Lightweight HAP with 27 m wingspan, low altitude flight achieved 2026. |
| DLR - German Aerospace Center | News |
The program’s dated history — milestones, contracts, supplier selections and facilities, each linked to its source. Log in to view.
Information on this page is compiled from a variety of published sources; links do not necessarily imply recommendation or confirmation by the airframe manufacturer.
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