On 15 September 2026, BAE Systems announced that its subsidiary Prismatic secured a £15.7 million contract from the UK Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) to integrate ground-based power beaming technology into the PHASA-35 High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS). The 3.5-year demonstration program aims to enable year-round, continuous stratospheric flight by overcoming the limitations of solar power during short winter daylight hours.

The contract is part of ARIA’s broader Enduring Atmospheric Platforms program, which recently expanded to a £70 million investment across 18 projects. By transmitting power directly from the ground to the aircraft, developers hope to establish HAPS as a persistent, lower-cost alternative to conventional satellites for communications, surveillance, and Earth observation.

Advancing the PHASA-35 platform

The PHASA-35 is an Uncrewed Air System (UAS) featuring a 35-metre wingspan and a total weight of 150 kg. Designed to operate at altitudes up to 66,000 feet, the aircraft currently relies entirely on solar panels and batteries. This power architecture restricts its operational endurance in regions with long winter nights, such as the United Kingdom.

Bob Davidson, CEO of BAE Systems’ Prismatic, stated in the press release that power beaming could be transformative for the platform. He noted that relying solely on the sun presents a significant challenge in places with limited winter daylight.

The integration of power beaming could also improve the aircraft’s utility. The PHASA-35 currently has a payload capacity of 15 kg. Reducing the reliance on heavy onboard batteries could allow engineers to increase that capacity, making room for heavier sensors or communication arrays.

Project HAWK and rectenna integration

The power beaming architecture relies on partnerships with Space Solar and MuWave Limited. Space Solar announced on 15 September 2026 that it received a £1.3 million ARIA contract to develop the radio-frequency rectenna technology under an initiative named Project HAWK.

Space Solar Co-CEO Martin Soltau indicated that energy remains a central constraint for HAPS operations. The ARIA funding will transition the company’s rectenna technology from laboratory testing to an integrated flight demonstration on the PHASA-35.

The technical targets for the ARIA program are highly specific. The agency aims to demonstrate the delivery of 300 watts of continuous direct current power to a 20 kg communications payload in the stratosphere for at least one week. The ultimate goal is to achieve an operational cost below £500 per hour.

Building a domestic stratospheric industry

ARIA Programme Director for Enduring Atmospheric Platforms Rico Chandra emphasized the strategic nature of the investments. Chandra stated the research expands UK leadership in high-altitude platforms, aiming to make the country the primary location where the industry is designed, built, and scaled.

AirPro News analysis

We view the ARIA investment as a critical bridge for the HAPS sector. For years, solar-powered stratospheric platforms have struggled with the “winter penalty” at higher latitudes. If Prismatic and Space Solar can successfully demonstrate reliable ground-to-air power beaming at 66,000 feet, it will fundamentally alter the payload-to-weight economics of the PHASA-35. Removing battery mass in favor of payload capacity makes the platform significantly more competitive against low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, particularly for localized, persistent surveillance and telecommunications relays.

Sources: BAE Systems

Poseidon Aerospace has secured $60 million in Series A financing to advance the flight-test campaign and establish initial production for its flagship unmanned cargo aircraft, the Egret.

In a press release issued on September 8, 2026, the Alameda, California-based manufacturers announced the oversubscribed funding round led by TQ Ventures. The capital injection will support the expansion of the company’s engineering and operations teams as it targets both regional commercial air cargo and contested defense logistics markets with a pilotless, conventional-propulsion platform.

Advancing the Egret freighter program

The primary beneficiary of the Series A funding is the Poseidon Aerospace Egret, an unmanned fixed-wing freighter designed specifically for logistics operations. The cargo-aircraft features an approximate 50-foot wingspan, a payload capacity of 4,000 pounds, and a range exceeding 1,650 nautical miles.

Poseidon Aerospace expects to conduct the first uncrewed flight of the full-scale Egret by the end of 2026. This milestone follows the successful 2025 test-flights of the Seagull, a quarter-scale demonstrator aircraft. The company is also developing the Heron, an unmanned seaplane variant that shares the Egret’s 4,000-pound payload capacity.

Rather than pursuing electric or hydrogen propulsion systems, Poseidon Aerospace utilizes conventional internal combustion engines. The manufacturer aims to achieve cost reductions primarily through its unmanned operating model rather than novel propulsion technologies.

Strategic expansion and investor backing

The $60 million round builds upon an $11 million seed financing round completed on November 5, 2025. Alongside lead investor TQ Ventures, the Series A round includes participation from JAWS, G Squared, Hanwha Asset Management USA, Starship Ventures, Drover Ventures, and Draper Associates.

Poseidon Aerospace intends to operate its own regional cargo service to complement existing logistics networks. By leveraging pilotless operations, the company plans to serve remote and underserved routes that are currently uneconomical for conventional crewed cargo carriers.

David Zagaynov, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Poseidon Aerospace, stated in the release that the company exists to bring about the future of air cargo and logistics.

Most aircraft are designed first around the people flying them and then adapted to carry cargo. We are starting with a different question: How would you design an aircraft if its only purpose were to move payload as efficiently and reliably as possible? We are building unmanned cargo planes from the ground up, designed and purpose-built for logistics with every modern innovation.

AirPro News analysis

We note that Poseidon Aerospace’s decision to rely on conventional internal combustion engines distinguishes it from many contemporary aerospace startups focused on electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) or alternative fuel platforms. By removing the complexities of unproven propulsion certification, the company can focus regulatory and developmental efforts entirely on its autonomous flight systems and unmanned operational approvals. The dual-use approach targeting both commercial regional cargo and defense logistics provides multiple revenue pathways, though securing airspace integration approvals for a 50-foot unmanned aircraft will remain a primary regulatory hurdle ahead of commercial entry into service.

Sources: Poseidon Aerospace Press Release

Robinson Unmanned successfully completed two days of demonstration flights with its R44 AIRTRUCK on September 2 and 3, 2026, validating the heavy-lift uncrewed aerial system for high-risk offshore energy logistics. The flights, conducted at Acadiana Regional Airport (KARA) in New Iberia, Louisiana, showcased the aircraft’s ability to perform elevated deck landings and precision cargo operations without an onboard crew.

In a press release issued on September 8, 2026, the company detailed the operational readiness of the remotely piloted variant of the widely produced Robinson R44 helicopter. The demonstrations were hosted by the Aviation Academy of Louisiana (AAL) and included participation from PHI Aviation and Rotor Technologies, highlighting a collaborative push to integrate uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) into demanding maritime supply chains.

Demonstrating offshore logistics capabilities

The R44 AIRTRUCK performed a series of maneuvers designed to replicate the challenging environments of offshore oil and gas platforms. These included offshore-style deck approaches, precision positioning, and simulated cargo loading and unloading sequences. The aircraft is designed to remove human crews from hazardous cargo missions while maintaining the payload capacity of a traditional light Helicopters.

According to the manufacturer, the R44 AIRTRUCK offers a useful load of up to 1,000 pounds and provides more than 60 cubic feet of internal cargo volume. The aircraft operates at cruise speeds exceeding 100 knots and can reach a maximum operating altitude of 14,000 feet. Flight operations require a two-person crew consisting of one remote pilot in command and one ground support crew member.

Robinson Helicopter Company President and CEO David Smith emphasized the demanding nature of the operational environment the aircraft is designed to serve.

“Offshore operators have spent decades moving crews and cargo to platforms in some of the toughest flying conditions there are,” Smith said.

The “Era of Both” strategy

The Louisiana demonstrations represent a key milestone for the Robinson Unmanned business unit, which was officially established on March 10, 2026. The division was formed following the absorption of Ascent AeroSystems, signaling a shift from small tactical drones to scalable, heavy-lift autonomous aviation based on existing certified airframes.

The company refers to this dual approach as the “Era of Both.” By utilizing the established R44 platform, operators can deploy uncrewed aircraft while maintaining commonality with their existing maintenance, training, and parts infrastructure.

“This is the Era of Both in practice, the same airframe, the same parts, and the same people supporting manned or unmanned missions,” Smith stated.

The commercial logistics demonstrations follow a parallel effort in the defense sector. On June 24, 2026, Skyryse announced a partnership with Robinson Unmanned to develop a UAS based on the turbine-powered R66 platform, indicating a broader strategy to adapt the manufacturer’s light helicopter portfolio for uncrewed operations across multiple industries.

AirPro News analysis

We note that adapting a certified, mass-produced airframe like the R44 for uncrewed operations provides a distinct logistical advantage over clean-sheet UAS designs. Offshore operators already possess the tooling, supply chains, and maintenance personnel required to support Robinson helicopters. By replacing the pilot with a payload and remote command link, operators can immediately integrate heavy-lift drone capabilities into their fleets without establishing parallel maintenance ecosystems. The involvement of established offshore operator PHI Aviation in these demonstrations suggests strong industry interest in utilizing uncrewed platforms for routine or high-risk cargo runs, reserving crewed flights for passenger transport.

Sources: Robinson Unmanned