Oh no, you're thinking, yet another cookie pop-up. Well, sorry, it's the law. We measure how many people read us, and ensure you see relevant ads, by storing cookies on your device. If you're cool with that, hit “Accept all Cookies”. For more info and to customize your settings, hit “Customize Settings”.

Review and manage your consent

Here's an overview of our use of cookies, similar technologies and how to manage them. You can also change your choices at any time, by hitting the “Your Consent Options” link on the site's footer.

Manage Cookie Preferences
  • These cookies are strictly necessary so that you can navigate the site as normal and use all features. Without these cookies we cannot provide you with the service that you expect.

  • These cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you. They perform functions like preventing the same ad from continuously reappearing, ensuring that ads are properly displayed for advertisers, and in some cases selecting advertisements that are based on your interests.

  • These cookies collect information in aggregate form to help us understand how our websites are being used. They allow us to count visits and traffic sources so that we can measure and improve the performance of our sites. If people say no to these cookies, we do not know how many people have visited and we cannot monitor performance.

See also our Cookie policy and Privacy policy.

This article is more than 1 year old

45-day drone flights? You are like a little baby. How about a full YEAR?

BAE-backed Brit upstart makes eye-catching UAV claim

Defence kit megalith BAE Systems is working on a drone that "has the potential to fly for up to a year before needing maintenance", in a challenge to Airbus' Zephyr being trialled by the Ministry of Defence.

The Phasa-35 drone, under development by Hampshire-based firm Prismatic with the backing of BAE Systems, is intended to be a High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) craft, again similar to the Airbus drone.

The craft is said to have a 35-metre wingspan and weigh 150kg, powered by electric motors fed from a lithium-ion battery. It is not yet a marketable thing, according to today's BAE statement, though it is an interesting proposition nonetheless. Prismatic said the craft can be ordered from June with a 12-month delivery lead time.

The BAE claim of year-round aerial ability is eye-catching – particularly that it will use "only the sun to power the aircraft during the day and recharge the batteries for overnight operation".

Prismatic's own marketing spec sheet for the Phasa-35 revealed that it has a useful payload of 15kg and a max altitude of between 55,000ft and 70,000ft, which it said "provides high availability against prevailing winds".

These are above the typical height for the jet stream, according to the Met Office, which puts their usual max heights as between 9 and 16km, or about 52,500ft in aviation-standard units. Jet stream winds can reach speeds of up to 200mph, which would drive any small, light aircraft well away from its target.

Zephyr 7 in flight. PIC: AIRBUS

UK military buys third £4m Zephyr drone for 'persistent surveillance' trials

READ MORE

The 15kg payload on the spec sheet compares favourably with the Zephyr's 5kg payload.

So far the MoD is trialling three of the Phasa-35's competitor Airbus craft. Both are effectively flying solar panels capable of staying up for around 45 days at a time.

Flying high on juice from the Sun

The main use for unmanned aircraft that can fly for long periods of time without needing to land is surveillance. As the technology matures, military interest in unmanned aircraft for so-called "persistent surveillance" is growing. Aircraft such as the Phasa-35 and the Airbus Zephyr HAPS (high altitude pseudo-satellite) are attractive because they offer the ability to get "eyes on" a particular area for extended periods of time, provided the weather's OK.

In simple terms, covering the flat surfaces of an electric, unmanned aeroplane with solar panels and then flying it high enough to keep clear of most earthly adverse weather offers possibilities for satellite-style operations without the vast cost of launching and maintaining an orbital bird.

Prismatic's craft is offered for both military applications as well as "resource management and communications", which ties it in neatly with a Facebook ambition dating back to 2016 for "thousands" of connectivity-providing craft orbiting the globe. ®

 

Similar topics

Similar topics

Similar topics

TIP US OFF

Send us news


Other stories you might like