New hero of the skies: Phasa-35 drone as the future of meteorology
150 kg of ultra-lightness and 20,112 meters of potential. Where else will the development be used?
BAE Systems has completed testing of a new aircraft – Phase-35 . The design seems incredibly fragile to look at, but it is designed to survive long periods of time at altitudes that are inaccessible to most other drones.
Phasa-35 stands out among existing pseudosatellites. Its design includes long wings (with a span of 35 meters) equipped with solar panels and compact electric motors. Together with lithium-ion batteries, these elements allow the device to remain in the sky for several weeks, and possibly months.
The body of the pseudosatellite is made of ultra-light carbon fiber, due to which its weight is only 150 kg. Instead of a landing gear, a special trolley is used, which is detached after takeoff.
For testing the developers chose New Mexico. The stable climate in the region allowed it to reach a height of 20,112 meters – this is twice the cruising altitude of passenger aircraft.
In the future, the model may become an alternative to traditional geostationary satellites. Phasa-35 has a laser system on board to track weather conditions. It allows you to adjust your route in real time and avoid turbulent areas.
This device is also capable of observing a specific territory for a long time, collecting intelligence data and tracking radio signals.
Phil Varty, project manager, noted that the technology opens up prospects not only for the military, but also for commercial organizations. In addition, such devices can provide Internet access in hard-to-reach places.
BAE Systems has already started building four more Phasa-35s at its production facility in England.
2023-10-02 18:05:00
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