BAE Systems Solar UAV Successfully Completes First Flight

By Mike Ball / 18 Feb 2020

Smart Sourcing for Unmanned Systems

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Follow UST

BAE Systems solar powered UAS

BAE Systems has announced that its solar-electric PHASA-35 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has successfully completed its maiden flight. The 35 metre wingspan unmanned aircraft, designed, built and flown in less than two years as part of a collaboration between BAE Systems and Prismatic Ltd, is intended to operate unmanned in the stratosphere.

The High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) vehicle is powered by the Sun during the day and by batteries overnight, and this combination of long-life battery and high-efficiecy solar technology could allow the aircraft to maintain flight in the stratosphere for up to a year.

PHASA-35 is intended to provide a persistent alternative to satellites that features the flexibility of an aircraft, and could be used for a range of applications including forest fire detection, communications, security and maritime surveillance. These first trials were sponsored by the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and Australian Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), and took place at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Woomera Test Range in South Australia. They marked the first fully integrated flight test of the PHASA-35 system, delivering rapid proof of capability.

When connected to other technologies and assets, the PHASA-35 UAV will provide both military and commercial customers with capabilities that are not currently available from existing air and space platforms. The platform also has the potential to be used in the delivery of communications networks including 5G, as well as provide other services, such as disaster relief and border protection, at a fraction of the cost of satellites.

Further flight trials have been scheduled, with the possibility that the aircraft could enter initial operations with customers within 12 months of the flight test programme completion.

Ian Muldowney, Engineering Director at BAE Systems, commented: “This is an outstanding early result that demonstrates the pace that can be achieved when we bring the best of British capability together. To go from design to flight in less than two years shows that we can rise to the challenge the UK Government has set industry to deliver a Future Combat Air System within the next decade.”

Find manufacturers of solar power solutions for UAS >>

Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Most Read Articles on UST This Week

Here’s our round-up of the five most read articles on UnmannedSystemsTechnology.com this week

Apr 17, 2025
Updates on Conformal Coating & Tin Whiskers

SCS outlines updates on conformal coatings and tin whiskers, looking into the origin of tin whiskers, how to mitigate their adverse consequences with conformal coatings, and more

Apr 17, 2025
Quadratix Powers Multi-Domain UAS Operations with AI & Automation

General Atomics integrates its software expertise into Quadratix, a unified ecosystem designed to enhance multi-domain operations with AI, automation, and real-time data fusion across air, land, sea, cyber, and space, including unmanned systems

Apr 17, 2025
Integrated ROV Camera & DVR System Streamlines Visual Inspections

SubC Imaging outlines how its Rayfin SCI system simplifies underwater inspections by combining camera control and DVR functions into a single interface for ROV operators

Apr 17, 2025
ParaZero Unveils Advanced Parachute Recovery System for Critical Drone Operations

ParaZero launches the SafeAir M4, an advanced parachute recovery system designed for the DJI Matrice 4, enhancing drone safety, compliance, and mission readiness

Apr 17, 2025
The Evolution of Aurora Flight Sciences’ sUAS Platforms

Aurora Flight Sciences has spent more than ten years refining sUAS capabilities, and its evolving platforms now support a broad range of ISR missions

Apr 17, 2025

Featured Content

WarrenUAS Adds Another Top Expert in Sophisticated Unmanned Aircraft

WarrenUAS has announced a collaborative agreement with The Tactien Group, deepening its industry ties and expanding its leadership in unmanned aircraft systems training and research

Apr 15, 2025
​​​​Teledyne Marine Launches Compact Autonomous Navigation Solution at Ocean Business

Teledyne Marine has unveiled the Compact Navigator at Ocean Business 2025, an ultra-compact autonomous navigation system designed for ROVs and AUVs, optimizing size, power, and performance in a single lightweight unit

Apr 10, 2025
Greensea IQ to Present Autonomous EverClean Robot at Ocean Business 2025

Greensea IQ will introduce its hybrid EverClean Inspection Robot at Ocean Business 2025, showcasing advanced capabilities for underwater asset inspection and data collection

Apr 07, 2025
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.