The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has ordered two solar-powered Zephyr 8 high-altitude ‘pseudo satellites’, according to Airbus Defence & Space. In a recent statement to the British parliament, defense procurement minister Philip Dunne said that the $16 million contract was for an operational concept demonstration. The payload is believed to be covert communications for special forces, though small intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors can also be carried.

The Zephyr 8 is the latest version of a record-breaking series of ultra-lightweight airframes designed to loiter slowly over an area of interest at 65,000- to 70,000-feet. Originally designed in the UK by QinetiQ more than 10 years ago, the program was bought by Airbus D&S in 2013, and development continued from a site at Farnborough airfield in the UK. The following year, a trial was conducted for the MoD out of Ascension Island in the southern Atlantic, to test the feasibility of operating the air vehicle in the Southern Hemisphere winter. The Zephyr charges its batteries from sunlight during the day, to maintain altitude at night.

That trial flight stayed airborne for 11 days, and included control via a satellite as well as by line-of-sight from the ground station. The longest claimed flight to date has been the world-record 14 days set in 2010 by a Zephyr 7, but Airbus says the Zephyr 8 can stay airborne for more than a month. Compared to earlier versions, it is 30 percent lighter and can carry 50 percent more batteries. The wingspan is increased from 22.5 meters to 25 meters (82 feet).

Airbus D&S said that in addition to defense missions, Zephyrs can be used for humanitarian missions, precision farming, environmental and security monitoring, and to provide internet coverage to regions with poor connectivity. The first Zephyr 8 is due to fly in mid-2017.