Flew in the stratosphere for 24 hours: the US tested the PHASA-35 solar-powered drone (video)

The PHASA-35 drone can cruise at an altitude of more than 20,000 meters for reconnaissance, surveillance and reconnaissance, according to BAE Systems.

In the US, a group of engineers led by the UK has successfully conducted a new series of tests of the unmanned aerial system (UAS) based on the high-altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) PHASA-35 from BAE Systems. This is&mentioned on the official BAE Systems website.

The solar-powered drone was reportedly being tested at the America Spaceport in New Mexico. The device flew for 24 hours, reaching an altitude of over 20,000 meters and cruising in the stratosphere, after which it successfully landed in good condition. It was ready for its next flight just two days later.

For the latest tests, the UAV was equipped with an active reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence-gathering sensor known as a software-defined radio, developed by BAE Systems' Digital Intelligence division. It weighed more than twice as much as the previous payload with which it flew into the stratosphere.

As noted by BAE Systems, the PHASA-35 drone is designed to operate in both normal weather and bad weather conditions. The UAV could potentially be used in areas such as ultra-long-range reconnaissance, surveillance and reconnaissance.

It is also reported that the development team has built a new model of the PHASA-35, which has more than twice the onboard generation and solar energy storage capacity of the current version. These modifications are expected to allow the drone to conduct longer and more complex stratospheric missions next year.

“These latest flight tests are a significant step forward in proving the capabilities of the PHASA-35 for operations and a real moment of pride for our entire team. We are committed to continuing the development of the PHASA-35 at a pace to make it available for operational activities as early as 2026,” — said BAE Systems Prismatic CEO Bob Davidson.