Photo on the top of this page and above: With the Phantom Eye's 150 foot wing span and two hydrogen-propelled engines, Phantom Eye will be able to carry a 450 lp payload on missions spanning over several days, at an altitude of 65,000 ft. Photos: Boeing.

“After five years of technology development, we are now deploying rapid prototyping to bring together an unmanned aerial vehicle [UAV] with a breakthrough liquid-hydrogen propulsion system that will be ready to fly early next year.” said Darryl Davis, Boeing Phantom Works president. The entire propulsion system of the Phantom–Eye completed an 80 hour test in an altitude chamber last month, clearing the way for the propulsion system and UAV to be assembled. Boeing also is developing a larger HALE that will stay aloft for more than 10 days and carry payloads of more than 2,000 pounds.