BAE Systems' PHASA-35, a solar-powered drone with a 115ft wingspan, completed two successful stratospheric test flights, demonstrating its ability to stay airborne for extended periods. The aircraft can operate continuously in the stratosphere for up to 20 months, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional satellites.
It looks like a cross between a toy airplane and a drone, but this British solar-powered aircraft could be the future of aerial surveillance. PHASA-35 , built by British company BAE Systems, is a 150kg solar-electric aircraft that can quietly cruise through the stratosphere for months at a time. Named after its 35-metre wingspan, the unmanned aerial vehicle ( UAV ) travels at a maximum height of 70,000 feet, at a leisurely speed of 55mph.
Designed as a cheaper and lighter alternative to satellites, it can be used for Earth observation and surveillance, border control, communications and disaster relief. Now, BAE Systems reveals that PHASA-35 has just completed a second round of test flights into the stratosphere – the second layer of Earth's atmosphere. Launching from Spaceport America in New Mexico, it flew for 24 hours, climbing to more than 66,000 feet before completing a smooth landing. PHASA-35 will be able to fly non-stop in the stratosphere for up to 20 months by 2026, offering a 'persistent and affordable alternative' to satellites. It harnesses power from the sun to stay airborne, charging a bank of small batteries during the day to keep it flying overnight. BAE Systems has completed new stratospheric test flights of the PHASA-35, a British-built solar powered drone with a 115ft wingspan that can operate in the air for 20 months. It is powered by the sun during the day and by batteries overnight, allowing it to maintain flight for over a year operating in the stratosphere, lower than most satellites. The 150kg aircraft, which has a wingspan lined with solar panels, is powered by the sun during the day and by batteries overnight. This allows it to maintain flight for over a year operating in the stratosphere, lower than most satellites. BAE Systems said PHASA-35 completed two stratospheric test flights from Spaceport America in October, the first since its maiden flight in June 2023
Solar Powered Aircraft PHASA-35 Stratospheric Flight UAV BAE Systems
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