PowerLight Technologies, based in Kent, Washington, has successfully tested its laser power beaming system, which was able to keep a military-grade drone, the KHA K1000ULE, airborne for extended periods. The tests took place this month at the Poinsett Electronic Combat Range situated at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, demonstrating the capabilities of the technology under a $270 million deployment contract from the AFCENT Battle Lab.
In collaboration with Kraus Hamdani Aerospace and sponsored by U.S. Central Command and the Pentagon's Operational Energy – Innovation Directorate, the demonstrations showcased the system’s ability to deliver power wirelessly while tracking the drone at altitudes reaching 5,000 feet. The operation highlighted the end-to-end functionality of the wireless power system, which includes elements like target acquisition and real-time laser beam management.
This innovation marks a significant evolution from PowerLight's earlier systems, which primarily supported smaller quadcopters. The potential of continuous wireless power could eliminate the need for fixed-wing drones to land for refueling, theoretically allowing for indefinite flight times. Funding for the development of this technology included up to $5 million from the Department of Defense's Operational Energy Prototyping Fund and $2 million from the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund, with PowerLight contributing a similar amount.