Skydweller Aero completes initial flight test campaign with its long-endurance UAV

US-headquartered Skydweller Aero announced on 1 October 2024 that it has successfully completed the initial uncrewed autonomous flight test campaign with its Skydweller solar-powered Skydweller long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

A series of uncrewed flight tests, of which the two longest were 16 hours and 22½ hours, were launched from the company’s facility at Stennis International Airport in Kiln, Mississippi.

“This campaign is one more step towards bringing extreme flight endurance to the world, demonstrates the feasibility of remaining airborne for weeks to months using solar energy and batteries, and is another significant milestone in the development of the Skydweller aircraft and its high reliability autonomous vehicle management system,” the compay stated in a press release.

The Skydweller campaign was initiated under a Joint Concept Technology Demonstration (JCTD) by the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (OUSD R&E) and sustained by a Cooperative Research & Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) to evaluate autonomous maritime patrol aircraft.

Skydweller aircraft are made out of carbon fibre, have a wingspan the size of a Boeing 747, can carry up to 800 lb (363 kg) of payload and are designed to be capable of uncrewed perpetual flight.

Missions envisaged for Skydweller UAVs include detecting drug smugglers and pirates at sea, providing continuous aerial coverage above war zones, surveilling naval activity in contested waters without risking the lives of flight crew and tracking wildlife migration and poaching in Africa.

“Because Skydwellers can fly perpetually for long-duration missions, each Skydweller can replace a fleet of combustion-powered manned or drone aircraft at a cost savings of 10× to 100×. Because Skydwellers are solar-powered, they are green with zero carbon footprint,” the company states on its website.

Dr Robert Miller, CEO and co-founder of Skydweller Aero, was quoted by the company as saying, “This flight test campaign is an important achievement and validates our business vision, marking a new era in autonomous aviation. Skydweller Aero is redefining what is possible in the aerospace industry, and the data gathered that validates our models for multi-day fights is a testament to our team’s dedication and innovation. We are excited to continue pushing the boundaries of what uncrewed solar-powered aircraft can achieve and will continue on with our mission to bring perpetual flight to the world.”

Barry Matsumori, Skydweller Aero’s president & chief operating officer, added, “We have accomplished a major milestone toward demonstrating the feasibility of perpetual flight by leveraging the trillions of dollars in global research and development investment in solar energy, battery storage, and the handing and manufacturing of extremely strong, ultra-lightweight carbon fibre assemblies. As these subsystems improve, we will continue to leverage them for the benefit of our customers.”