BAE Systems’ solar drone flies for 24 hours straight at staggering 66,000 feet
SMRTR summary
BAE Systems has successfully conducted new test flights of its solar-powered PHASA-35 aircraft. The unmanned aerial vehicle flew for 24 hours, reaching altitudes over 66,000 feet. It carried an active intelligence and surveillance sensor, demonstrating its potential as a high-altitude, long-endurance platform. The aircraft was ready to fly again just two days after landing. BAE aims to make PHASA-35 available for operational use by 2026, with plans to increase its solar power generation and mission capabilities in future iterations.
SMRTR provides this summary for quick context. The original article belongs to Interesting Engineering.
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