BAE Systems’ British engineers have successfully completed a stratospheric flight trial of the High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) / Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) PHASA-35. 

According to a relevant announcement, over a 24-hour period, PHASA-35 soared to more than 66,000 feet, reaching the stratosphere, before landing successfully. The trial, completed last month in New Mexico in the USA, allowed engineers to assess the performance of the experimental solar-electric drone within the outer reaches of the planet’s atmosphere.

The flight marks a significant milestone in PHASA-35’s development which began in 2018. Designed by BAE Systems’ subsidiary, Prismatic Ltd, to operate above the weather and conventional air traffic, this ultra-lightweight system has the potential to provide a platform for various uses including ultra-long endurance intelligence, maritime and military surveillance, reconnaissance, and communication by remaining airborne for several months.     

Particularly, it has the potential to be used in the delivery of communications networks including 4G and 5G, and could be used in a wide range of applications, such as disaster relief and border protection, as an alternative to traditional airborne and satellite systems.

PHASA-35, which has a 35-meter wingspan and carries a 15 kg payload, weighs 150 kg and uses a range of world-leading technologies including advanced composites, energy management, solar electric cells, and photo-voltaic arrays to provide energy during the day which is stored in rechargeable cells to maintain flight overnight.  

The successful trial assessed the performance of the experimental system across a range of areas. It is the first in a series of trials planned to confirm system performance, support development activities and validate test points to enable PHASA-35 to be made available in defence and commercial markets internationally.

PHASA-35’s first stratospheric flight demonstrates that this vehicle is on track to become the go-to system for long endurance, high altitude, and communications applications in the future.  

The PHASA-35 program sits within FalconWorks, a new center for advanced research and development within BAE Systems’ Air sector, designed to deliver a range of cutting-edge combat air capabilities to the UK and its allies. The latest trials took place in New Mexico in the White Sands Missile Range and are sponsored by the US Army Space and Missile Defence Command Technical Center. 

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