Skydweller Aero has successfully concluded the initial series of autonomous flight tests for its Skydweller Unmanned Aerial System. The uncrewed tests, which included two extended flights lasting 16 and 22.5 hours respectively, were conducted from the company’s facility at Stennis International Airport in Kiln, Mississippi.
This flight campaign marks a further step in the pursuit of extreme flight endurance, showcasing the aircraft’s ability to remain airborne for extended periods — potentially weeks or months — using only solar energy and battery power. It represents a major milestone in the development of the Skydweller aircraft, as well as its highly reliable autonomous vehicle management system.
The 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 supported by a Cooperative Research & Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) to assess the potential of Autonomous Maritime Patrol Aircraft (AMPA).
Dr. Robert Miller, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Skydweller Aero, said: “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.”
“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,” added Barry Matsumori, President & Chief Operating Officer of Skydweller Aero.
Key highlights of the flight include:
- Uncrewed autonomous operation: The Skydweller aircraft completed a series of long-endurance flights, operating autonomously at a high tempo and demonstrating its potential for extreme endurance missions
- Solar-powered flight: Powered by solar energy, the aircraft operates with zero carbon emissions and exceptionally low noise levels
- Highly reliable autonomous systems: The flight tests validated Skydweller’s fully redundant autonomous systems and demonstrated its capabilities in beyond-line-of-sight operations and communication
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