The U.S. Navy has completed a successful three-day nonstop flight of a solar-powered unmanned aerial system (UAS), according to a Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) update issued on 29 July.
Conducted in partnership with Skydweller Aero, the 73-hour continuous flight from Stennis, Mississippi, demonstrated the Skydweller UAS’s ability to sustain solar-powered flight while maintaining communications, autonomous operation, and responsiveness to changing weather conditions.
“This demonstration is a prime example of how NAWCAD partners with industry to deliver what the fleet needs,” said Rear Admiral Todd Evans, Commander of NAWCAD. “It also reflects the technical depth of our workforce and our ability to translate ideas into capability.”
The test validated Skydweller’s energy management system, showing that it could achieve a positive energy balance while in flight. It also confirmed the platform’s suitability for integration into maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) networks.
“Integrating Skydweller into the Navy’s ISR architecture creates a layered and resilient network that maximizes the capabilities of all our assets,” said Bill Macchione, Special Purpose UAS lead at NAWCAD. “This collaborative approach ensures we have the right platform for the right mission, optimizing our resources and enhancing our overall maritime domain awareness.”
The Skydweller UAS is designed for wide-area, persistent surveillance. Its ability to remain airborne for days without refueling enables traditional manned or high-performance systems to focus on time-sensitive or technically demanding missions.
NAWCAD began experimenting with Skydweller in 2020 in response to operational challenges faced by U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), including illicit trafficking and border security. The persistent flight capability supports efforts to monitor large maritime areas continuously, providing U.S. and allied forces with improved situational awareness.
Further testing of the Skydweller platform is planned for later this summer within SOUTHCOM’s area of responsibility.
How come all our defence news lately is about what the Americans are doing?
Did I even just ask that question?
What the US is doing or not doing has become of general interest lately.
In theory the UK should be keeping pace, if not exceeding the pace set by our cousins across the pond.
In this regard it seems we are matching or ahead of the US, we have been conducting trials on multiple high flying solar powered drones from BAE and Airbus and we purchased three operational systems in March 2025 under a classified program.
Seeing that we do have the advantage in solar planes, why isn’t the US ordering some of ours? Clearly the American tax payer doesn’t have a winge fest whenever they develop tech already available from overseas. Hope we bar this in mind when we replace landrover.
It’s against the law for America to buy any items for its military from a foreign power. America fully believes in industrial integration of NATO members it’s just the integration has to be American.
Several mistakes in the previous comments:
1. Skydweller engineering offices are in Spain in fact it is a green product for the UK.
2. Has nothing to do with Zephyr or Phasa in terms of payload can carry 400Kg. They are toys in comparison.
3. The UK ones are stratospheric, this one is tropospheric and flights like any other aircraft.
gotta get some of those to really hunt submarines.