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In April,  (Oklahoma City, Okla., U.S. and Alcobendas, Spain), a company developing an uncrewed solar-powered aircraft, Skydweller, completed its first successful autonomous unmanned/uncrewed flight and landing, from Stennis International Airport in Mississippi. Skydweller, manufactured from carbon fiber, has a wingspan greater than a Boeing 747 and a zero-carbon footprint.

“Our fleet of uncrewed aircraft will enable a multitude of long-duration missions that support national security and non-terrestrial communications,” says Robert Miller, CEO, Skydweller Aero. This includes continuous aerial overage above conflict zones, surveying naval activity in contested waters without risking pilots’ lives, detecting drug smugglers and pirates at sea, and tracking wildlife migration and poaching in Africa. 

Skydweller aircraft are capable of perpetual flight, staying aloft for 90 days or more, at altitudes of up to 45,000 feet. In contrast, current combustion-powered aircraft, including piloted aircraft and drones, are limited to approximately 40 hours maximum flight time, limited by the endurance of pilots, the amount of fuel a conventional aircraft can carry and the need for frequent maintenance. 

“We are applying 21st century materials science, artificial intelligence and software development to an industry that has spent more than 100 years building piloted, combustion-based aircraft,” Miller notes. “This allows Skydweller to leap ahead of heritage aircraft manufacturers in terms of aircraft performance, flight duration and cost effectiveness.” Moreover, solar-powered Skydwellers are said to be 10 to 100 times less expensive to operate than conventional aircraft for long-duration missions.