Virtek Vision Interational is publicly debuting the first graphene-wing drone this week at the Farnborough Airshow, the company announced.

The flight of the Prospero drone is a research collaboration with the University of Central Lancashire and the University of Manchester, Virtek said in a statement.

Graphene, a sheet of carbon one atom thick, is strong while still being lightweight and flexible, and has "huge potential for aerospace" applications according to Billy Beggs, UCLan's engineering innovation manager.

Graphene is the thinnest, lightest compound known to man and is between 100 and 300 times stronger than steel.

Thales launches Fulmar X drone
Farnborough, England (UPI) Jul 14, 2016 - Thales debuted its new Fulmar X drone this week at the Farnborough International Air Show in England, the company announced.

The new drone can be used for civil and military applications, Thales said in a statement.

Fulmar X can be configured to meet the needs of different customers, featuring endurance and aerial intelligence in a small, flexible platform with low running costs, the company said.

The drone can be deployed as a standalone system or can be integrated into wider surveillance systems.

It has an endurance of more than eight hours and an operating range of more than 48 miles.

Fulmar X is built entirely from carbon fiber composite and features a 3-meter wingspan.

It is launched by catapult and recovered automatically with a net that can be operated in confined areas like a ship or vehicle.

The recovery system is also available in configurations that don't require a dedicated infrastructure, Thales said.