Aerospace giant BAE Systems has snapped up a Hampshire company in a bid to further develop solar-powered aircraft.

Prismatic, which is based in Alton, has developed a solar plane with a 35 metre wingspan weighing just 150kg.

Called Phasa 35 (persistent, high altitude, solar aircraft), the plane can stay airborne for up to a year and deliver 5G mobile networks from above to remote areas or disaster zones.

Working with Farnborough headquartered defence multinational BAE, Prismatic has spent 15 months developing Phasa.

The companies have so far built two full-scale prototypes, which are now undergoing testing at BAE’s Warton facility in Lancashire ahead of flight trials planned next year.