Designed as a cheaper alternative to satellites, the aircraft can be used for surveillance, border control, communications and disaster relief with a potential ability to stay airborne for up to 12 months.

When Qinetiq sold Zephyr to Airbus Defence and Space in 2013, these engineers left and formed their own company, named Prismatic, to develop a rival aircraft.

[5] In January 2021, BAE Systems announced plans to carry out a flight demonstration in the United States after acknowledging “strong growing interest” in the aircraft from across the U.S. Department of Defense and federal agency customer base.

[7] The aircraft is a solar-electric HALE UAV designed as a cheaper alternative to satellites and is able to carry out a range of tasks, including border protection, maritime and military surveillance, disaster relief and communications.

Featuring long-life battery technology, ultra-lightweight solar cells, a 35-metre (115 ft) wingspan and a weight of 150 kilograms (330 lb), the aircraft is designed to operate in the stratosphere.