In a major leap for aviation and space technology, BAE Systems’ subsidiary Prismatic Ltd. has once again demonstrated the capabilities of its cutting-edge solar-electric unmanned aircraft system, the PHASA-35. The High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) successfully completed stratospheric trials in both 2023 and 2024, soaring beyond 66,000 feet and landing safely marking it as a major contender in the race to redefine global communications and intelligence gathering.
Built for persistence and precision, the PHASA-35 short for Persistent High Altitude Solar Aircraft operates using solar power during the day and rechargeable cells at night, enabling it to remain airborne for months without the need for refueling. With a 35-meter wingspan and weighing just 150 kilograms, this ultra-lightweight aircraft functions as a pseudo-satellite, offering cost-effective and environmentally friendly solutions for a range of military, civil, and commercial operations.
The aircraft’s modular design allows it to carry a wide variety of payloads, ranging from surveillance sensors to 5G communication modules, earth observation tools, and environmental monitors. This flexibility allows users to upgrade or adapt payloads as technology evolves—something that traditional satellites or manned aircraft struggle to achieve.
Positioned under BAE Systems’ FalconWorks—a hub for next-generation aerospace research—the PHASA-35 represents a new frontier in unmanned aerial innovation. Its capabilities offer game-changing applications in border security, maritime surveillance, disaster response, and agricultural monitoring. For military stakeholders, it presents a persistent ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) platform without the risk and cost associated with satellite launches or manned missions.
Unlike satellites, which are expensive and time-consuming to launch and replace, PHASA-35 promises rapid deployment, low maintenance, and reusability, making it an attractive asset in both peacetime operations and crisis scenarios.
As the world increasingly turns to flexible, sustainable, and intelligent aerial platforms, PHASA-35 stands as a pioneering force redefining how nations communicate, monitor, and respond from the edge of space.
