Xidian University Tests Microwave-Based Wireless Power System for In-Flight Drone Recharging

A Chinese research team from Xidian University has tested a wireless power transfer system that uses microwaves to beam energy from the ground to a drone in flight, ZeroHedge reported. The system relies on a mobile emitter that directs energy to an antenna array mounted beneath the drone, enabling continuous power delivery without physical connections.

The experiment maintained stable transmission while both the drone and the ground unit were moving.

The results were published in the peer-reviewed journal Aeronautical Science & Technology. Xidian University is associated with defense-related technologies.

The trials operated at an altitude of about 49 feet. According to project lead Song Liwei, one main technical hurdle was keeping the microwave emitter precisely aligned with the drone while both were in motion.

The team addressed the alignment hurdle by combining GPS positioning, a real-time tracking mechanism, and onboard flight control systems to continuously correct the beam’s direction. This coordination allowed stable energy transfer despite movement and environmental variability.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has backed multiple efforts investigating wireless energy transfer, including radio-frequency and laser-based systems, ZeroHedge reported.

Laser-based systems offer higher precision and longer transmission ranges than other wireless energy approaches. Microwave-based transmission is more robust in poor weather conditions and less affected by line-of-sight degradation than laser-based systems. A single microwave emitter could potentially supply energy to multiple drones at once.

The concept could expand how long drones remain in the air, supporting continuous surveillance, strike missions, and electronic warfare without frequent landings. Beyond extending flight endurance, the technology could reshape drone design by reducing reliance on large onboard batteries, freeing up space and weight for heavier payloads and additional sensors.

As unmanned systems have become central to modern ground warfare, militaries and defense researchers have intensified efforts to develop wireless charging and in-flight power delivery technologies.

The goal is to reduce dependence on landing cycles and extend the operational endurance of drone fleets in contested environments.