Kraus Hamdani Aerospace Demonstrates Wireless Drone Charging at Shaw AFB

This article is based on an official press release from Kraus Hamdani Aerospace.

In April 2026, Kraus Hamdani Aerospace (KHA) and PowerLight Technologies successfully demonstrated in-flight wireless charging of a military-grade, fixed-wing drone using laser power beaming. Conducted at the Poinsett Electronic Combat Range at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, the test marks a critical step toward achieving indefinite flight capabilities for large UAV. According to the official press release, the demonstration successfully delivered sustained, autonomous power to the aircraft at operationally relevant altitudes.

The joint effort was sponsored by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Pentagon’s Operational Energy, Innovation Directorate (OECIF). By eliminating the need for drones to return to base for refueling or battery recharging, this technology aims to provide uninterrupted Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) coverage for the U.S. military.

During the test, the ground-based system successfully acquired and tracked the KHA K1000ULE drone at altitudes up to 5,000 feet. Industry research reports indicate that the system steered and focused an infrared laser beam in real-time, delivering kilowatt-class power that kept the aircraft airborne for hours during the evaluation.

The Technology Behind the Demonstration

The K1000ULE Unmanned Aerial System

The aircraft utilized in the demonstration was the K1000ULE (Ultra Long Endurance), a fully electric, Group-2 fixed-wing UAS manufactured by Kraus Hamdani Aerospace. According to industry specifications, the drone features a 5-meter (16-foot) wingspan and weighs between 15 and 19.3 kilograms (33 to 42 pounds). The K1000ULE is uniquely designed to mimic a sailplane, utilizing onboard artificial intelligence to identify and ride thermal updrafts while using wing-mounted solar panels to recharge its lithium-ion batteries during daylight hours.

Even prior to the integration of laser power beaming, the K1000ULE possessed formidable endurance capabilities. Research data highlights that the platform previously set an industry record for a Group-2 UAS by achieving a continuous flight of nearly 76 hours. Furthermore, the platform’s operational viability was recently cemented by a sole-source $270 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract awarded by the U.S. Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) Battle Lab.

Laser Power Beaming Mechanics

The wireless charging capability is driven by PowerLight Technologies’ laser power beaming system. According to technical briefings, the architecture relies on an autonomous, ground-based high-power transmitter equipped with advanced beam-control software and high-precision optical tracking. This transmitter fires a non-visible, infrared laser beam at the moving aircraft.

To capture this energy, the K1000ULE is fitted with a specialized 6-pound (2.7-kilogram) receiver mounted on its airframe. This receiver utilizes laser power converters to transform the incoming optical energy into electricity, which is then fed directly into the drone’s onboard battery system. In addition to power transfer, the hardware establishes a bi-directional optical data link capable of supporting secure, real-time communications and telemetry.

Strategic Implications for Military Operations

Historically, the endurance of uncrewed aerial vehicles has been strictly limited by onboard fuel or battery capacity. This limitation creates operational gaps, forcing commanders to cycle multiple aircraft to maintain continuous coverage over a target area. The successful demonstration at Shaw Air Force Base suggests that wireless power beaming could theoretically allow drones to remain on-station indefinitely.

This capability is particularly valuable for forward-deployed units and infrastructure-limited environments, such as disaster zones or contested military airspace. By reducing the logistical footprint required for fuel transport and maintenance, military aircraft forces can operate more agilely.

“Integrating PowerLight’s power beaming capability extends that persistence further and reduces the need to land. That expands the K1000ULE’s ability to maintain continuous coverage…”

Company leadership has emphasized the strategic value of this persistence. In contextual remarks from preliminary testing in late 2025, KHA CEO Fatema Hamdani noted that a platform free from refueling requirements is “one that never blinks.” Similarly, PowerLight Technologies CTO Tom Nugent highlighted that the technology represents more than simple point-to-point transfer, envisioning the creation of an “intelligent mesh energy network capability.”

AirPro News analysis

We view the successful demonstration of the PTROL-UAS (Power TRansmitted Over Laser to Uncrewed Aircraft Systems) program as a pivotal shift in military aviation logistics. The Department of Defense’s financial backing, including up to $5 million from the Operational Energy Prototyping Fund and $2 million from the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund, demonstrates a serious institutional commitment to decoupling ISR assets from traditional supply chains.

If PowerLight Technologies can successfully scale this technology from point-to-point charging into a dynamic “mesh energy network,” the implications extend far beyond Group-2 drones. The ability to dynamically route power to various aerial, terrestrial, or even space-based assets could fundamentally alter how the U.S. military plans long-duration missions, effectively turning energy into a wirelessly transmittable data packet.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is wireless power beaming?
  Wireless power beaming is the transmission of electrical energy without wires. In this demonstration, it was achieved by firing a high-power, non-visible infrared laser from a ground transmitter to a specialized receiver on the drone, which converted the laser light back into electricity.
• How high can the drone be charged?
  During the April 2026 demonstration at Shaw Air Force Base, the system successfully tracked and delivered power to the K1000ULE drone at altitudes up to 5,000 feet.
• Who funded the development of this technology?
  The development was heavily supported by the U.S. Department of Defense through the PTROL-UAS program, with millions in funding provided by the Operational Energy Prototyping Fund and the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund.

Sources

• Kraus Hamdani Aerospace Press Release (PRNewswire)