The Russian Myasishchev M-55 high-altitude geophysical research aircraft completed European stratosphere studies.

As part of the StratoClim project in which scientists from 26 European research institutes are participating, the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) Stratosphere & Troposphere (S &T) Radar Centre, also known as the Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research (ACARR) has organised a series of climate expeditions using M-55 Geophysica, a Russian high altitude aircraft. The aircraft reaches altitudes of up to 21 km and has a flight duration of up to 5 hours.

The Russian-made M-55 Geophysica reconnaissance plane has often been compared to the infamous US Lockheed U-2 spy aircraft in terms of technical characteristics.

The M-55, codenamed “Mystic “by NATO, is a single-seat high altitude geophysical research aircraft which was developed by the Myasishchev Design Bureau in the Soviet Union.