Laser Power Beaming Enables Continuous UAS ISR Missions

Ground-to-Air Laser Power Link Keeps K1000ULE UAS Airborne for Hours

PowerLight Technologies, in partnership with Kraus Hamdani Aerospace (KHA), has successfully demonstrated a ground-to-air laser power beaming system that sustained a KHA K1000ULE unmanned aerial system (UAS) during tests conducted for the U.S. Department of Defense. The flight demonstrations concluded in April 2026 at the Poinsett Electronic Combat Range, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.

The system acquired and tracked the drone at altitudes up to 5,000 feet, delivering kilowatt-class wireless power in real-time. This capability directly addresses the critical endurance limitation of electric UAS, offering a solution for continuous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

Implications for B2B Buyers and Drone Operators

This breakthrough means that military and commercial drones can potentially achieve indefinite flight durations, eliminating the need for frequent battery swaps or landings for recharging. For B2B buyers in sectors such as defense, border security, infrastructure inspection, and agriculture, this technology enables persistent aerial operations without downtime.

• Scalable, autonomous wireless power networks are now validated at kilowatt-class levels.
• Precision tracking and beam control also apply to directed-energy counter-UAS systems.
• Continuous ISR coverage becomes economically and operationally feasible.

According to the test results, the laser power beaming system maintained real-time power delivery at altitudes up to 5,000 feet, marking a significant step toward autonomous wireless power networks for drones.