BAE SYSTEMSThe unmanned PHASA-35 aircraft climbed to 20 kmBAE SYSTEMS
The PHASA-35 solar-powered high-altitude pseudosatellite (HAPS) flew for 24 hours, climbed to 20 kilometers (km), and entered the stratosphere (the layer of the atmosphere between 7 and 50 km) in tests carried out in New Mexico, USA, in December. It then landed in serviceable condition, ready to fly again two days later. The unmanned aerial system was developed by Prismatic Ltd., a subsidiary of British company BAE Systems, which designed and built PHASA-35, named after its 35-meter wingspan. It weighs 150 kilograms (kg), can carry a load of up to 15 kg, and features photovoltaic devices that provide energy during the day and store it in rechargeable cells to power it at night. Potential applications include border surveillance, military communication, rescue operations, aerial reconnaissance, and support for telecommunications networks. The company expects to complete testing in 2026 (BAE Systems, December 17).
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