Solar drone spying could have one more supplier. A solar-powered electric satellite drone from BAE Systems successfully completed a 24-hour continuous flight, reaching a peak stratospheric altitude of more than 20,000 meters, the British aerospace manufacturer announced on December 19 in a video .
This flight of notable height and duration was the first in a series of close tests. Carried out a few weeks ago from New Mexico, United States, the test flight concluded with a “successful landing, in usable condition, meaning it was ready to fly at again two days later,” specifies the aircraft manufacturer in a press release.
A 150 kilo drone with a 35 meter wingspan
Called “Phasa-35”, the aircraft has a wingspan of 35 meters and a weight of 150 kilograms. Equipped with photovoltaic panels, the plane stores energy in cells during the day to maintain flight at night. The aircraft aims to provide very long endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The British manufacturer hopes to have its device put into service by 2026.
Designed from Prismatic’s offices in Alton, UK, the unmanned aircraft (UAS) made its maiden flight in 2020 after two years of design and construction. The BAE Systems subsidiary has completed the design of a second version of Phasa-35, already built. “The new model has more than twice the on-board solar energy production and storage capacity of the current version. These modifications should allow it to carry out stratospheric missions of increasing duration and complexity from next year,” says the subsidiary.
BAE Systems is, however, not a pioneer in the solar drone-satellite market. In 2018, the Zephyr solar-powered electric drone from aircraft manufacturer Airbus Defense and Space made a record flight of nearly 26 days. Designed to reach an altitude of 21,000 meters, the device also became the first solar drone to enter the atmosphere, at least officially.
Source: www.usinenouvelle.com
