Drones

Europe’s first MALE drone hits the skies using space-based tech

The first European-built medium-altitude, long-endurance drone has flown in Italy using satellite navigation and data links provided by a European satellite, its manufacturers said.
The Piaggio P.1HH, which has hitherto made test flights using line-of-sight navigation, flew out of Trapani airport in Sicily using satellite navigation provided by the Athena-Fidus satellite.
The linkup was provided by Italian satellite services company Telespazio, which is 67 percent controlled by Italy’s Leonardo and 33 percent by Thales. Athena Fidus is managed from Telespazio’s space center in Fucino, Italy.
The test comes as Europe is showing more interest in homegrown satellite navigation for drones, which is considered crucial to developing an autonomous UAV able to fly without GPS.