US Air Force tests wireless power beaming to extend drone endurance

The U.S. Air Force is evaluating a wireless power‑beaming system that can transmit electricity to small military drones via a directed radio‑frequency (RF) signal. Reach Power, a U.S. startup, and the University of Nebraska‑Lincoln’s Nimbus Lab have been awarded an STTR Phase I contract to demonstrate the concept, successfully delivering roughly 50 watts to a perched drone in a recent test. The technology, called power beaming, would allow drones that remain stationary at a location to receive energy without returning for battery swaps, potentially increasing mission duration and reducing logistical burden. While the Air Force has not yet placed an order for a production system, the partnership aims to prove the technical feasibility of wireless charging for ISR and communication drones.

The approach converts electrical power into a focused RF beam that a drone‑mounted receiver captures and reconverts into usable electricity, similar in principle to Wi‑Fi but at much higher power levels. If successful, the system could enable drones to stay aloft longer, only taking off when relocation is required, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and safety for military personnel.