NEWS
Keep up with our latest advancements, publications, interviews, fundraising rounds, and strategic partnerships.
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September 2025
Heliblade: Maiden Flight Preparation Major Milestone
In early September, a major step was reached in preparation for the Heliblade's maiden flight, which remains on track for Q1 2026. Qualification tests of the Heliblade's launch and recovery operations, focusing on three critical subsystems of the Heliblade platform, were conducted in live conditions for a full week. All systems performed in line with expectations, specifications, and the behaviors predicted by simulation campaigns.
Following these tests, the Heliblade's launch and recovery procedures were refined and validated for future operations, ensuring safety, operational control, and non-destructive recovery of the vehicles. These tests further improved the stability and capabilities of the new version of the autopilot.
These achievements reflect the unrelenting dedication of X721 engineering team and its partners.Their effort and commitment are bringing X721 closer to the stratosphere.
August 2025
TALK SATELLITE: Interview of Jean-Jacques Dordain
X721 Heliblade readies for Test Flight Q1 2026
Jean-Jacques Dordain, former Director General of ESA and now Chairman of the Board at X721 shared his perspective on the journay and ambitions of X721 project.
Having someone of his vision and experience guiding X721 is both an immense honor and a responsibility.
His words are a reminder that while this project began with a simple idea, it is now a collective effort aiming a real impact ...
AVIATION WEEK: Article - X721 pitches the Heliblade, a tethered-rotor platform for stratosphere use.
Named after the 72,100-ft. altitude, X721, a Dubai-based startup company created by former Airbus and Arianespace engineers, is developing a high-altitude platform station (HAPS) relying on a tethered rotor. Other companies, such as U.S.-based Devorto, have also studied that lifting concept ...
July 2025
ELECTRONIQUES: Article - X721 reaches the stratosphere.
The young company X721 invents and builds new types of floating craft. This year, it's presenting its first stratospheric drone, named Helibalde ...
June 2025
Paris Air Show 2025 - Salon du Bourget 2025
AIR&COSMOS: Article - HELIBLADE : The Promises of a Stratospheric Drone.
In the wake of the New Space era and its surge in innovation, the Heliblade project is emerging ...
BFM BUSINESS: Interview of Pierre-Eric Lys
Heliblade, new air bet of X721 ...
Pierre-Eric Lys Founder and CEO of X721, was the guest of François Sorel on BFM Business - Tech & Co, the daily newspaper, this Tuesday, June 17.
Paris Air Show: Very high altitude: the Minister of the Armed Forces unveils the ministerial strategy.
on Tuesday, June 17
Paris Air Forum 2025 - Sovereignties & AI
Europe's biggest meeting place for players in the aeronautics, space and defense !
A full day featuring roundtables, debates, interviews, and keynotes, aimed at deciphering the current and future stakes of these sectors and offering effective responses to the problems and challenges of tomorrow.More Info on Paris Air Forum: https://parisairforum.fr
Paris Air Forum: Keynote of Pierre-Eric LYS
Pierre-Eric LYS – Founder and CEO of X721 Project
Paris Air Forum: Air and Space, an indispensable continuum in the face of threats.
Roundtable - Speakers:
Rear-Admiral Christophe MERIEULT – Deputy General Officer, Space Command
Vincent PERY – Director of Defense Programs, ArianeGroup
General Eva PORTIER – Assistant to the Delegate General for Armaments at the French Ministry of Defense
General Laurent RATAUD – Air Defence and Air Operations Command (CDAOA) at the Air and Space Force Headquarters
General Alexis ROUGIER – General officer in charge of very high altitude at the Air Force and Space Staff
Here's a glimpse of the Forum, featuring videos of some key moments from the day.
Other Videos from the Paris Air Forum are uploaded on YouTube
Science-et-vie: Article - A French stratospheric drone poised to revolutionize Earth observation.
Developed by a French startup based in Dubai, this project draws on a decade of research in aerodynamics, artificial intelligence, and biomimetics to create a craft unparalleled in the atmosphere ...
Discover the invention of the heliblade at Paris Air Forum
Pierre-Eric Lys, CEO and co-founder of x721, will speak
on Friday, June 13, from 11:35 to 11:55
at Paris Air Forum - Sovereignties & IA, CNIT Forest, Santos Dumont Room
A presentation to discover the heliblade, a drone capable of long-endurance flight, both at low and very high altitudes in the stratosphere (20 km).
This presentation will be available at https://parisairforum.fr
May 2025
FUTURA: Article on the heliblade, a revolutionary craft capable of hovering for months at an altitude of 20 km ...
USINE NOUVELLE: Article on the stratospheric drone, the heliblade of X721 ...
March 2025
The Heliblade autonomously reaches flight level 721 for the first time in a simulator.
July 2023
Successful first free flight test of the autopilot on a micro heliblade model.
April 2022
First flight of a heliblade attached to an overhead crane.
May 2020
Tethered wings test
November 2018
