UAVOS and Mira Aerospace complete 48-hour HAPS flight test ahead of planned Europe missions
UAVOS and Mira Aerospace have completed a 48-hour test flight of the ApusNeo 18 high-altitude pseudo-satellite in Abu Dhabi.
The mission focused on a jointly developed optoelectronic, gyro-stabilized payload onboard device, or POD, designed for imaging and data collection at high altitude. During the flight, the system captured high-resolution imagery with precise geolocation from altitudes between 3,000 and 12,000 meters. At 12,000 meters, it achieved a ground sample distance of up to two meters. The result marks a key step for both companies as they push HAPS platforms beyond endurance demonstrations and toward operational sensing missions.
The payload was built for stratospheric conditions, where temperatures can fall to minus 70 degrees Celsius and the air is thin. It uses an automatic temperature control system to heat and cool electronic modules and maintain stable operation. The gimbal-mounted optical unit provides observation across a plus or minus 90-degree range with high-precision angular positioning. The housing is aerodynamically optimized, and total payload weight is 3.6 kilograms. The system also supports radio communications at distances of more than 100 kilometers, adding a connectivity layer to its imaging role.
The flight also tested a data-relay network based on ground modem repeaters to extend HAPS operating range. Each repeater can cover up to 200 kilometers. UAVOS said the relay station trials were carried out in preparation for commercial flights in Europe planned in the coming months. That gives the program a near-term deployment path and suggests the companies are moving from technical validation to early service readiness.
The outcome strengthens the case for HAPS as a flexible platform between conventional drones and satellites. If the companies can sustain image quality, communications performance and long-endurance flight in commercial operations, the platform could support mobile connectivity, border monitoring, mapping, forest fire detection and emergency response. The Abu Dhabi test therefore matters not only as a successful flight, but as a signal that stratospheric aircraft are edging closer to practical use.