SoftBank and TOPPAN Holdings Co-develop Ultra-lightweight, High-durability Wing Membrane for HAPS
SoftBank and TOPPAN have developed a specialized wing membrane capable of withstanding the harsh stratospheric environment for High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS), targeting commercial deployment by 2029.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 19:24
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 11:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 03:01 (15h 59m after Collected)
SoftBank Corp. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Junichi Miyakawa) and TOPPAN Holdings Inc. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; President and COO: Satoshi Ohya) have jointly developed an ultra-lightweight, high-durability wing membrane material for High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS), along with evaluation methods that replicate the stratospheric environment. The companies plan to proceed with trial production of the membrane, intending for its use in HTA-type HAPS (High-altitude Tethered Aerostats) in commercial services starting in 2029.
This development fuses SoftBank's HAPS expertise with TOPPAN's advanced film functionalization and weather-resistance evaluation technologies. It overcomes previous challenges where conventional materials would lose strength under intense UV radiation and extreme temperatures near -100°C in the stratosphere, enabling long-term HAPS operation.
### Key Features of the Wing Membrane and Evaluation Methods
1. Lightweight and Safe Design: Leveraging TOPPAN's converting technology, they optimized the structure using special impact-resistant resins to ensure that even if the membrane is damaged, tears will not spread under load.
2. High Durability for Extreme Environments: Designed to withstand temperatures ranging from -95°C to 100°C, high-concentration ozone (10–20 ppm), and strong UV-C radiation, based on real-world data provided by SoftBank.
3. Reliable Evaluation: TOPPAN established a new testing environment that replicates stratospheric conditions, allowing for detailed analysis of degradation mechanisms to reflect in product design.
### Future Outlook
Both companies aim to further enhance the lightness and strength of the membrane by FY2027 and establish mass production technology by FY2028 to ensure stable quality and supply for commercialization from 2029.
This development fuses SoftBank's HAPS expertise with TOPPAN's advanced film functionalization and weather-resistance evaluation technologies. It overcomes previous challenges where conventional materials would lose strength under intense UV radiation and extreme temperatures near -100°C in the stratosphere, enabling long-term HAPS operation.
### Key Features of the Wing Membrane and Evaluation Methods
1. Lightweight and Safe Design: Leveraging TOPPAN's converting technology, they optimized the structure using special impact-resistant resins to ensure that even if the membrane is damaged, tears will not spread under load.
2. High Durability for Extreme Environments: Designed to withstand temperatures ranging from -95°C to 100°C, high-concentration ozone (10–20 ppm), and strong UV-C radiation, based on real-world data provided by SoftBank.
3. Reliable Evaluation: TOPPAN established a new testing environment that replicates stratospheric conditions, allowing for detailed analysis of degradation mechanisms to reflect in product design.
### Future Outlook
Both companies aim to further enhance the lightness and strength of the membrane by FY2027 and establish mass production technology by FY2028 to ensure stable quality and supply for commercialization from 2029.