China demonstrates microwave beam that recharges drones in flight, continues power delivery

Chinese researchers tested a ground-based microwave system that can beam power to a drone in flight.

GPS-guided tracking kept the emitter aligned with the aircraft while both were moving, and a fixed-wing drone stayed airborne for up to 3.1 hours.

If scalable, the approach could cut downtime and reduce battery limits by enabling midair recharging without landing.

The technology could extend surveillance and combat missions, while competing with laser and RF charging efforts in the U.S. and elsewhere.