This archive report was first published on 10 September 2019.
On September 10, 2019, BAE Systems announced the development of a revolutionary solar plane called PHASA-35, which can stay airborne for up to a year. The plane, developed in just 15 months, has the potential to provide 5G networks and other services in remote areas.
According to Nigel Whitehead, Chief Technology Officer at BAE Systems, the investment in Prismatic Ltd. will enable the company to take this technology into production, with the possibility of initial operations with customers within 12 months of flight trials.
The PHASA-35 plane is powered by the sun during the day and by batteries overnight, weighing just 150kg despite its large 35-meter wingspan. The plane has the potential to be used in the delivery of 5G networks, as well as provide other services such as persistent surveillance, disaster relief, and border protection at a fraction of the cost of satellites.
BAE Systems plans to test the plane prototypes at their Warton facility in Lancashire, with the possibility of launching the planes 'early next year'.
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