Chinese researchers have developed a wireless power transmission system capable of charging drones mid-flight.
According to Chinese media reports, the car-mounted system uses a microwave emitter to beam energy to an antenna array on the underside of the aircraft while both the drone and the charging platform are in motion.
China’s ‘land aircraft carrier’ charges flying drone with microwave beam
While the technology is still at an early stage, it may one day allow drones to fly indefinitely pic.twitter.com/ts7DrjsvK8— China Perspective (@China_Fact) April 19, 2026
Defense analysts have likened the system to a “land-based aircraft carrier”, with the armored vehicle serving as a mobile command and energy hub capable of launching and sustaining drones, similar to how naval carriers support aircraft.
Scientists from Xidian University in Xi’an, led by professor Song Liwei, a specialist in antenna structures and microwave wireless energy transmission, tested the platform while both the transmitter and aircraft move simultaneously.
During the tests, the system kept fixed-wing drones airborne for just over three hours at an altitude of about 15 meters.
The researchers said only about 3 to 5 percent of the beamed energy reached the drone, while most of the microwave energy was lost. They noted that keeping the microwave emitter aligned with the drone was difficult and required close coordination between GPS positioning and onboard flight control systems.
They added that the power received by the drone also fluctuated due to wind conditions and positioning errors.
While the Chinese system is still in its early stages, researchers say further improvements could make it more efficient and reliable, allowing drones to stay in the air longer and support continuous surveillance, strikes, and electronic warfare without frequent landings.
The development comes as other countries explore alternative wireless power technologies. In 2025, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency transmitted 800 watts of power over 8.6 kilometers using a laser beam.
