Luxembourg paid €1.83m for Skydweller research and awaits final report

Luxembourg has told parliament how much it has paid for research linked to the solar-powered Skydweller aircraft. As of 11 November, the figure is €1.83 million. The money covered the development and testing of ultralight components, not the purchase of a finished drone.

Of that amount, €1.165 million went to Leonardo in 2025 and €665,000 to Spain-based Skydweller S.L. Another €200,000 remains payable under the same research contract once the final report is received. This is not a separate new project.

The Defence Ministry says interim reports provisionally indicate that the research objectives were met. A full assessment depends on the final report. It says no new research project with Skydweller is planned; the outstanding payment concerns work already contracted.

The prototype was lost during tests in the United States in May 2026. According to the ministry, Luxembourg had no operational or financial role in that test. Cargolux transported the aircraft from Spain to the US under a separate paid arrangement; the amount has not been disclosed for commercial confidentiality reasons.

The outcome of research on components and the fate of one prototype are separate questions. The government has cited interim findings, while the final report and any practical use of the results remain to be seen.

Sources: Defence Minister's answers to parliamentary questions 4925 and 4909, published on 11 November 2026.