The Mira Aerospace ApusNeo18 HAPS vehicle. Photo: Mira Aerospace

Mira Aerospace, a subsidiary of UAE-based Space42, conducted a flight of a high altitude platform system (HAPS) vehicle in Europe in December. 

Mira Aerospace flew its solar-powered HAPS model, ApusNeo18, from the Fuerteventura Technology Park in Spain on December 12. The flight collected data focused on wildfire prevention and management as part of the ISSEC program, a joint venture between Telespazio Ibérica and Pegasus Aero Group, focused on developing Spain’s wildfire-response infrastructure. Space42 said it was the first HAPS flight with civilian operational approval in Europe.

The ApusNeo18 HAPS has an 18-meter wingspan, 12-meter length, and weighs just over 45 kilograms. Mira Aerospace recently demonstrated its first flight in the UAE in November 2025. 

“In wildfire response, HAPS offer the agility, persistence, and precision to produce a comprehensive, real-time view of moving fire fronts. The flight for Telespazio Ibérica shows how our systems provide commercial value through AI-enabled data, to governments and first responders, while improving decision-making, accelerating critical emergency response times, and reducing operational costs,” commented Khaled Al Marzooqi, CEO of Mira Aerospace.