Mukhtiar Ahmad

HAPS through the Lens of Satellites and UAVs: A Function-Level Perspective on the Emerging High Altitude Economy

High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) operate in the lower stratosphere at 17-27 km, between satellites and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). For this third tier the architectural case has long outpaced the flight evidence, but a wave of 2020-2026 stratospheric flights now permits a direct comparison. We evaluate HAPS...