Department of War Contracts PowerLight for In-Flight Laser Recharging of Drones

The Aerial ReCharge system uses optical power beaming to deliver kilowatt-class energy to airborne uncrewed aircraft up to 5,000 feet away.

By The Company WireOctober 14, 2026 at 5:20 PM UTC3 min read

PowerLight — Department of War Contracts PowerLight for In-Flight Laser Recharging of Drones. Photo: TechRadar Pro.

The United States Department of War's Operational Energy - Innovation (OE-I) Directorate has awarded a development contract for a laser-based wireless recharging system designed to keep uncrewed aerial vehicles airborne without landing, as reported by TechRadar Pro .

Known as the Aerial ReCharge (ARC) system, the technology uses directed laser beams to transmit power over long distances to drones and their onboard payloads. Developed by wireless energy company PowerLight, the optical power beaming platform delivers kilowatt-class power to aircraft operating up to 5,000 feet away, distinguishing it from short-range electromagnetic induction methods used in consumer wireless chargers.

The ARC platform relies on an autonomous transmitter that can track and recharge a drone while both the power source and the aircraft are in active motion. By transmitting power directly to a receiver mounted on the aircraft, the system replenishes the battery in flight, removing the requirement to land for battery swaps.

"Power beaming means more time on mission and less time on the ground," said Chris DePuma, OE-I Combat Power Portfolio Lead. "By enabling autonomous, in-flight recharging, the Aerial ReCharge system reduces the need to land and swap batteries, extending mission endurance and reducing risk in contested environments."

PowerLight has demonstrated the technology using a Kraus Hamdani Aerospace K1000ULE uncrewed aircraft equipped with a power beaming receiver. System development is currently underway at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.

According to PowerLight, the hardware is designed to scale across multiple drone tiers, including Group 2 fixed-wing aircraft and larger platforms carrying heavier sensors or effects payloads. "This new DOW award reflects confidence in where wireless power beaming is today and in the operators who are shaping it," said PowerLight Chief Executive Officer Tim Jenks, noting potential applications across ground, air, and space domains.