Military spying typically takes place via satellites orbiting the Earth from hundreds of miles in the sky.
Yet another way to keep tabs on strategic adversaries has come to the fore, albeit this one operates at a slow pace.
Phasa-35 progresses at such a sluggish rate that it seems to be moving in reverse.
This peculiar British-made aircraft has two electric engines mounted to extended wings which contain solar panels. These panels absorb energy from the sun during the day, and power the engines during the evening.
Stored solar energy can be kept in packs of lithium batteries, similarly to the type used for phones. Having a large number of batteries ensures that in the event of some of them failing during the course of prolonged flights, the overall flight endurance is not compromised.
Despite its delicate appearance, the Phasa-35's wingspan of 35 metres, carbon fibre fuselage and all-up weight of 150kg give the impression that it is rather fragile.
Its wheels abandoned on the ground, the machine descends slowly on its two engine pods, changing its damaged propellers after each flight. It looks like an arrow with extended, slender wings.
The delicate build of Phasa-35, which gives it a more insect-like appearance than a regular aeroplane, was a factor in BAE Systems' decision to use a US Air Force test range in New Mexico to trial it in July of this year.
The climate of the South-West US, which is usually gentle, offered the plane its greatest opportunity to ascend to 66,000ft, twice the elevation of a typical commercial airline, without confronting forceful gusts of wind which could potentially flip the fragile aircraft over and down into a descent towards the ground.
Crawling to its lofty destination at a sluggish 55 mph, the machine can go in reverse in comparison to the earth if it encounters gusts of faster speed as it rises through air patterns.
The Zephyr solar-powered high altitude aircraft, which is one of its rivals, managed to fly for up to 18 days during 2021 tests in Arizona.
Zephyr, which was assembled in the United Kingdom on behalf of Airbus, endured a short-lived flight that ran for 64 days before disastrously concluding in July 2022 as a result of high-altitude wind turbulence.
In the lofty atmosphere at altitudes above 60,000ft, aircraft can avoid bad weather, however they have limited lift from their wings, thus they can be affected by any turbulence or strong winds.
While the US Army was testing the possibilities of the Zephyr aircraft, a setback occurred.
Military personnel on both sides of the Atlantic are considering how they can be utilized as alternative satellites. These are part of a group of unmanned planes known as High Altitude Pseudo-Satellites (HAPS).
The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced that early testing of pseudo-satellites has led to the emergence of Project Aether, which includes the use of high-altitude balloons and solar-powered aircraft.
With a limited cargo of cameras and other sensors, a HAPS is able to remain over an area of note for a protracted period of time, monitoring communications or relaying specifics of adversarial troop movements.
The alleged Chinese espionage balloon destroyed off the US coastline in February had a heft weight of a massive bundle of electronic appliances. On the contrary, a pretend-satellite is restricted by the amount of weight it can handle.
The use of technology in business is becoming increasingly prevalent. Companies are finding that integrating technology into their operations is a great way to streamline processes and become more efficient. Technology can help businesses save time and money by automating tasks, making communication faster, and providing access to data and real-time analytics. By utilizing technology, businesses can stay competitive and provide their customers with a better, more enjoyable experience.
The appeal of utilizing this type of monitoring technology lies in its affordability - it's much cheaper than launching a satellite into orbit.
Before this dream is brought to fruition, potential customers must be certain that the aircraft has the capability to stay in the air for the necessary amount of time to complete its tasks.
Weather prediction on a very micro level is a major element of this endeavor. According to the Ministry of Defense, "the knowledge of how to successfully deploy pseudo-satellites in the stratosphere (which is higher than 60,000 ft) is novel and continuously advancing."
The Phasa-35 trials employed a laser sensing system that assessed the weather and wind speeds every 500ft until the pseudo-satellite's ultimate altitude. Through this thorough strategy of weather forecasting, Phasa-35 was able to evade any undesirable turbulence.
Phil Varty, who is heading up business development for Phasa-35 at BAE Systems, states that loitering pseudo-satellites can remain "fairly motionless".
This is appealing to military customers who desire to monitor a single area for an extended period and to commercial customers who may aim to deploy hundreds of pseudo-satellites in a particular arrangement to provide internet connectivity across a distant region.
Mr Varty's team are gaining experience in order to become capable of dealing with more difficult weather situations; however they will never take a chance with thunderstorms, like a space launch.
He acknowledges the striking similarities between pseudo-satellites and space exploration, suggesting, "It's like the space industry has been transformed, and the gate has been opened."
Mr Varty has been stressing to the team that Phasa-35 has the potential to win records for high-altitude endurance, however, he emphasizes not to get too carried away. He insists, "We are not trying to set any records."
Militaries worry that interference or damage in the space arena could lead to the lack of spy satellites when they are essential. As such, pseudo-satellites are viewed as a cost-effective alternative.
Douglas Barrie, an expert in defence and aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, believes that "a pseudo-satellite is a more desirable option than a spy balloon since it can remain over an area of interest for days without being easily detected. This technology is on the verge of becoming commonplace."
BAE Systems intends to increase the capability of Phasa-35 by 2025. A further four aircraft will be constructed at Alton in Hampshire; however, due to the wingspan of the craft, each needs to be broken down into sections and erected at its planned location.
Italian aerospace leader Leonardo has created a pseudo-satellite called Skydweller and is in discussion with Saudi Arabian telecoms firm Salam regarding its use. Salam is exploring the potential of pseudo-satellites to transmit 5G Internet signals to the ground.
Leonardo is unwilling to discuss Skydweller, which might be linked to how hard it is to make progress in a moderate fashion.
Comments