BAE Systems has acquired the British firm Prismatic, which specializes in solar-powered drones. The two companies collaborated on the PHASA-35 (Persistent High-Altitude Solar Aircraft), which has a wing-span of 35 meters and carries a 15 kilogram payload. The solar-powered aircraft’s long-life battery and efficient solar technology means that it can potentially fly at 65,000 feet for as long as a year. Applications for the aircraft could include the delivery of 5G networks, border protection, disaster relief and surveillance.  BAE Systems’ latest patent, directed toward search operations, dovetails nicely with such a drone, as these operations require extended flight time.