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The Zephyr, a high altitude pseudo-satellite UAS / UAV (HAPS) operating on solar energy, is launched in Arizona, United States, in November 2018. Airbus Defense and Space / Document distributed via REUTERS
SYDNEY / MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Airbus SE announced on Thursday that a test flight of its Zephyr surveillance and communication drone in Australia for the British Ministry of Defense had been "halted" because of the conditions adverse weather last month.
The solar-powered drone would have landed during a test flight following an incident after take-off, the Australian newspaper reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources.
The March 15 flight was "interrupted earlier than planned due to poor weather," said an Airbus spokeswoman.
"We are working hard to prepare for the next trial," she said, refusing to provide further details.
Zephyr is designed to linger for months at an altitude of about 21,000 km (70,000 feet) for months for surveillance or to give a temporary boost to communications.
In February, Airbus announced the construction of its first Zephyr global operations site in a remote area of northwestern Australia, as its launch time was ideal.
The Australian Civil Aviation Authority and the Australian Transportation Safety Board declined to comment.
Report by Byron Kaye and Sonali Paul; additional reports and writings by Jamie Freed; Edited by Darren Schuettler and Sherry Jacob-Phillips
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