Unlocking the value of deployable autonomous technology

About Us

Archangel Aerospace is a leading consultancy for long endurance unmanned technology and operations. Our historical focus has been airborne systems, specifically stratospheric, solar-electic aircraft. Now covering air, land, sea, space and cyber domains, we work on technologies to unlock the full potential of enduring unmanned systems to help solve humanities largest challenges.  

Note from our CEO, Daniel Sola:

Archangel Aerospace has been helping customers solve challenging problems since 2010 when the business was rapidly setup in support of QinetiQ's Zephyr solar-electric aircraft programme. We were located between Archway and Angel in London and, wanting to respond to the customer request that day, we picked Archangel as a business name 'as a placeholder, just for now...'  After a few World records, Zephyr was sold to Airbus and that form of technology is now referred to as a High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS). Archangel never got around to changing the sign above the door.

In the last few years, accelerating and converging technology, especially artificial intelligence and low-cost space access, have resulted in new opportunities for Archangel Aerospace’s research and development teams. We investigated several cutting-edge innovations for the commercial utility and took a step into an uncharted territory when we incubated two new aerospace start-ups. Archangel Aerospace continues to support these new ventures with expertise and leadership. Today, Archangel Lightworks and Archangel Imaging both operate as independent limited companies with their own staff, technology portfolios and products while continuing to benefit from Archangel Aerospace’s first-class expertise and industry network.

Projects & Services

At Archangel Aerospace we love problems and challenges. A few areas of expertise are listed below, but we often find customers call us with a novel problem to solve ('novel' usually means weird or just not-yet-understood) . Our solutions are customized to save time and cost and our unique approach to artificial intelligence applied to all projects lies in discrete and fast application, instant feedback and low-band-width data transmission.

Mission simulation and operational analysis. Long endurance systems are heavily influenced by meteorology and practical operational considerations. We provide full analysis of launch, transit, on-task, and recovery phases to help our customers identify their requirements and design customised solutions. Payloads and ground systems, including receivers or imaging targets, platform performance and mission planning strategy should all be modelled. These can then be simulated in depth using decades of real data. Such diligence is often required by agencies, corporations and investors when evaluating projects.

Unmanned air operations. Archangel Aerospace has extensive experience in providing turn-key flight operations management service. Our particular experience is in unmanned operations. By working with regulators using previous case studies and appropriate risk mitigation methods, our work has facilitated world record flights and low-level tests alike with enhanced safety. Services have involved direct liaison with airspace authorities, preparing safety cases and agreeing operating instructions.

HAPS payload development. High Altitude Pseudo-Satellites (HAPS), formerly classed as High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs, are aircraft with the ability to stay airborne in the stratosphere for months continuously. Such machines offer the potential for new services, particularly in Earth observation and global communications. We believe the use and involvement of hybrid space and atmospheric constellations will lead to the best solutions to some of the biggest problems in the world. We can help accelerate payload development and deployment through design, build test and integrations.

Advanced aerospace R&D. Archangel was founded to assist QinetiQ at the time with critical elements of the joint UK/USA Zephyr programme. Since then we have continued to work on UK and US government funded R&D programmes as well as several private venture UAV developments.  Archangel remains deeply involved in High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) development to this day.

Technology transfer and mentorship. We firmly believe that emerging technologies will alleviate many of the problems that afflict the world today. Within our own areas of expertise in space and unmanned aviation we continue to provide training. Archangel has developed and delivered bespoke training packages, workshops and on-going technical mentorship in Europe, USA, Asia and the Middle East. We have provided guided technology development for government bodies and students to grow capability and skills and mentorship for start-up companies. Archangel Aerospace staff also act as mentors at Singularity University in California, USA.