BAE Systems conducted a successful trial of its High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS), called PHASA-35, reaching an altitude of over 20,000 meters (66,000 feet) during a 24-hour flight over White Sands, New Mexico.
Designed by BAE Systems’ subsidiary Prismatic Ltd, the PHASA-35 drone operates above weather and air traffic, offering potential applications in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, disaster relief, border protection, and the delivery of communication networks including 4G and 5G.
With a 35-meter wingspan and a 15kg payload, PHASA-35 utilizes advanced technologies such as solar electric cells, composites, and energy management systems. The recent trial was sponsored by the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command Technical Center.