The funding will support a unified weather forecasting and flight-planning platform for High Altitude Pseudo-Satellites under ARIA’s Enduring Atmospheric Platforms program.
HAPS are aircraft designed to operate persistently in the stratosphere. SkySight’s platform will help operators plan routes and keep aircraft above a target area while accounting for changing weather, solar energy, and beamed power.
The project will be delivered through SkySight’s UK subsidiary, building on its expertise in stratospheric wave forecasting for The Perlan Project, BAE Systems, Kea Aerospace, and others.
The platform’s planned capabilities include forecasts updated every 20 minutes, very high-resolution atmospheric modelling, and tools to identify favourable weather conditions for radio-frequency and laser power beaming.
Interactive 4D route planning across location, altitude, and time helps aircraft remain above a target area while accounting for weather, solar energy, and beamed power.
API integrations connect forecasts and route guidance with partner aircraft tracking and control systems.
Led by program director Rico Chandra, Enduring Atmospheric Platforms is backed by £70 million over 3.5 years. SkySight is one of 18 funded teams developing technologies to make stratospheric operations reliable and cost-effective, supporting advanced communications and connectivity for underserved regions.
The program’s central goal is to demonstrate that communications payloads can be kept aloft and powered in the stratosphere above the UK for a week.
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