BAE Systems PHASA-35

Lore & Background

PHASA-35 was originally designed and developed by engineers who had previously worked on the Zephyr HAPS drone for Qinetiq. When Qinetiq sold Zephyr to Airbus Defence and Space in 2013, these engineers left and formed their own company, named Prismatic, to develop a rival aircraft. Development of PHASA-35 consequently began in 2018, in collaboration with BAE Systems, and a first flight was scheduled for 2019. Prior to this, a quarter-scale model, named the PHASE-8, completed a successful first flight in 2017. In September 2019, BAE Systems acquired Prismatic as a subsidiary.

After less than two years in development, the PHASA-35 made its maiden flight on 17 February 2020 at the Woomera Test Range in Australia with support from the UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and Australian Defence Science and Technology Group. Further trials commenced and, in October 2020, the aircraft carried out an endurance trial whilst carrying a sensor payload. The trials saw the aircraft operating 72 hours whilst in a simulated environment of harsh stratospheric conditions. In January 2021, BAE Systems announced plans to carry out a flight demonstration in the United States after acknowledging strong growing interest from across the U.S. Department of Defense and federal agency customer base. By December 2024, it had flown for 24 hours and reached more than 66,000 ft from Spaceport America in New Mexico, targeting operational activity by 2026.

The aircraft is a solar-electric HALE UAV powered by the sun during the day, before switching to battery power during the night. It features long-life battery technology, ultra-lightweight solar cells, a 35 m wingspan and a weight of 150 kg, designed to operate in the stratosphere. It has a payload capacity of 15 kg.

Reader's Guide

The PHASA-35 represents a notable effort to provide persistent aerial capabilities at a lower cost than satellites, targeting roles such as border protection, maritime and military surveillance, disaster relief and communications. Its development, completed in less than two years from 2018 to its first flight in February 2020, was driven by engineers who left Qinetiq after the sale of the Zephyr program to Airbus. The acquisition of Prismatic by BAE Systems in September 2019 consolidated the project under a major defense contractor. The aircraft's ability to potentially stay airborne for up to 12 months, using solar power by day and battery power by night, positions it as a platform for long-duration missions in the stratosphere. Trials through 2020 and 2024 demonstrated endurance and altitude capabilities, with a 24-hour flight reaching over 66,000 ft by December 2024. Interest from U.S. defense and federal agencies, announced in January 2021, suggests a potential market beyond the UK and Australia. The aircraft's legacy may lie in offering a persistent, solar-powered alternative to satellite-based services, with operational activity targeted for 2026.

Did You Know?

• The PHASA-35 was developed in less than two years, with its first flight on 17 February 2020.
• It is designed as a cheaper alternative to satellites and can potentially stay airborne for up to 12 months.
• The aircraft has a wingspan of 35 m and weighs 150 kg.