Abu Dhabi-based AI-powered SpaceTech company Space42 has announced a landmark achievement following the first successful public test flight of its advanced solar-powered High Altitude Platform System (HAPS), the ApusNeo18. The flight, which took place during the Dubai Airshow 2025, saw the aircraft reach stratospheric altitudes, validating its endurance, all-weather resilience, and readiness for commercial deployment.
A Stratospheric Milestone
The test flight confirmed the ApusNeo18’s ability to perform under varied weather conditions, a critical step toward global operations. This was particularly significant as the flight was conducted in November, considered the UAE’s less favorable season for HAPS operations. The aircraft carried a sophisticated Earth Observation payload developed in-house by Mira Aerospace, Space42’s HAPS subsidiary, which combines high-resolution optical and infrared sensors with real-time data transmission capabilities.
Khaled Al Marzooqi, CEO of Mira Aerospace, Space42, said, “The successful test flight of ApusNeo18 marks the culmination of a comprehensive testing program to commercialize our latest payload technology. Sustaining solar-powered flight and reaching stratospheric altitudes in this season demonstrates reliable performance at scale. This achievement accelerates Space42’s mission to deliver premium geospatial intelligence and reflects the pace and precision with which Mira Aerospace is engineering advanced, high-altitude systems.”
Commercial Readiness and Strategic Impact
The ApusNeo18 is the first platform from Mira Aerospace to achieve commercial maturity, evolving from its subscale predecessor, the ApusNeo14. The new model boasts a higher altitude ceiling, greater payload capacity, and a wider operational envelope, positioning it for high-value commercial opportunities.
This successful validation supports Space42’s scalable data-as-a-service business model. The aircraft’s proven performance opens up practical applications in critical sectors such as environmental monitoring and disaster response, addressing key national and global needs.
Bridging the Gap Between Aviation and Space
HAPS aircraft are designed to operate in the stratosphere, offering satellite-like persistence and wide-area coverage combined with the flexibility and lower operational costs of a conventional aircraft. The ApusNeo18 is a lightweight, solar-powered platform engineered for sustained missions.
With an 18-meter wingspan, an altitude ceiling of 18,000 meters, and a 4-kilogram payload capacity, it features a modular construction that allows for rapid reconfiguration, making it adaptable for diverse mission profiles.
Bolstering National Aerospace Ambitions
This achievement is a core component of Space42’s AI-powered, multi-orbit architecture and significantly advances the UAE’s sovereign aerospace capabilities. The successful test places the UAE among a select group of nations that have publicly demonstrated sustained HAPS performance, directly supporting the goals of the UAE Space Strategy 2030.
To scale its operations, Space42 will commence production at its dedicated HAPS manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi. This facility represents one of the world’s only end-to-end, sovereign HAPS production lines and strengthens the UAE’s position as a regional hub for high-altitude innovation.
About Space42
Space42 (ADX: SPACE42) is a UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company that integrates satellite communications, geospatial analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities to enlighten the Earth from space. Formed in 2024 by the successful merger of Bayanat and Yahsat, Space42’s global reach allows it to address the rapidly evolving needs of its customers in governments, enterprises, and communities. Space42 comprises two business units: Space Services and Smart Solutions. Space Services focuses on upstream satellite operations for both fixed and mobile satellite services. Smart Solutions integrates geospatial data acquisition and processing with AI to inform decision-making, enhance situational awareness, and improve operational efficiency. Major shareholders include G42, Mubadala, and IHC.
Source: Zawya
