BAE Systems gets £15.7M to beam power to PHASA-35 drone

BAE Systems will install a ground-based microwave power-beaming system on its PHASA-35 stratospheric drone under a £15.7-million ($21 million) contract from UK agency ARIA. The upgrade aims to let the 35-m wingspan aircraft stay aloft for up to a year even at latitudes with little sunlight.

• Contract worth £15.7M ($21M) runs for three and a half years
• PHASA-35 flies above 20,000 m at up to 90 km/h
• A wing-integrated receiver converts microwaves back to electricity
• Beamed power could cut battery weight for heavier payloads