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Surrey-based battery systems specialist Lincad has secured a contract with BAE Systems subsidiary Prismatic to develop high-voltage lithium-ion battery packs for PHASA-35, a cutting-edge, solar-powered high altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) built in Hampshire.
Lincad has been working closely with Prismatic to enhance the battery capacity of PHASA-35, an ultra-light, long-endurance unmanned aerial system designed to operate in the stratosphere for months at a time. The project marks a significant step forward in British-led aerospace innovation, offering a persistent, cost-effective alternative to traditional satellite-based communications and imaging platforms.
Powered during the day by advanced solar photovoltaic cells, PHASA-35 uses Lincad’s custom-designed battery packs to maintain flight overnight. The battery management system developed by Lincad includes advanced control and regulation features as well as critical hardware and software safety components to ensure durability and performance at high altitudes.
To meet the project’s demanding requirements, Lincad’s engineering team overcame significant challenges in weight, size and energy density. The team devised a unique battery pack architecture using class-leading lithium-ion pouch cells, alongside a novel assembly process tailored specifically for the high-voltage modules used aboard PHASA-35.
Peter Slade, joint managing director of Lincad, said the project represents a major milestone for the company, saying, “PHASA-35 is a hugely exciting project that’s redefining what’s possible in HAPS and unmanned flight. We’re proud to have secured this contract and to be playing a key role in a world-leading engineering venture. Our collaboration with Prismatic has been fantastic, and we look forward to pushing the technology even further.”
Prismatic CEO Bob Davidson echoed the sentiment, highlighting the importance of collaboration in advancing British aerospace capability, adding, “PHASA-35 is a British-designed and built system, the result of successful partnerships between companies large and small. We’re proud of the rapid progress we’ve made, and our work with Lincad is instrumental in ensuring PHASA-35 delivers a market-leading capability from right here in the UK.”
Weighing just 150 kilograms and boasting a 35-metre wingspan, PHASA-35 is designed to carry a wide array of sensors for missions, including communications, surveillance, security and environmental monitoring. The system successfully completed stratospheric flight trials exceeding 66,000 feet in both 2023 and 2024, with operational readiness targeted as soon as 2026.
With its modular payload bay, PHASA-35 can be rapidly reconfigured to keep pace with advances in sensor technology, making it one of the most adaptable and persistent airborne platforms under development today.
