Funding
Submit your concept papers by 19 January 2026 (14:00 GMT)
We are funding the development of atmospheric platforms capable of a specific, galvanising demonstration: keeping a payload aloft and powered for seven days while maintaining precise station-keeping.
We are solution-agnostic – accepting proposals for fixed-wing, lighter-than-air, hybrid, or novel architectures – provided they can meet the programme's primary technical metrics.
- Power: Continuous delivery of 300 W to the payload (50.4 kWh total over one week).
- Payload: Capacity to support a 20 kg payload.
- Station Keeping: Ability to maintain line-of-sight contact with a fixed ground point throughout operation.
- Cost: A credible techno-economic path to a gross operating cost of <£500/hour by the end of the programme.
By overcoming these key aerodynamic and energetic challenges, we hope to unlock a resilient, and regionally scalable alternative to orbital satellites, and enable the delivery of ubiquitous, high-performance connectivity required to unlock the massive economic potential of AI.
Technical areas
The programme’s Technical Areas (TA) efforts run in parallel. Applicants can apply for a single or several TAs.
TA1 | Enabling Technologies: Focused on game-changing enabling technologies – such as power beaming, high-density energy storage, or novel materials – that make the development of a full system comparatively low risk.
TA2 | System Integration + Testing: Focused on developing and testing the platforms to achieve the primary metric: continuous delivery of power to a payload while keeping station.
TA3 | Deployment + Communications Architecture: Focused on technical, regulatory and commercial viability.
Please read the call for proposals to find out what is in and out of scope for each area.
Who should apply?
We invite applications from interdisciplinary teams that bridge fields such as aerospace engineering, advanced materials, energy generation, energy storage, and autonomy. We welcome proposals from scientists and engineers at universities, research institutes, startups, and established companies, as well as from individuals.
Join a team + attend the webinar
We have a live teaming tool that allows applicants to find complementary expertise. After a quick registration, you can browse other researchers and request an introduction from the ARIA team to explore potential collaborations.
We are hosting a webinar on 15 December (14:00 GMT) to provide an overview of the programme and facilitate a series of lightning talks from potential applicants. These talks will offer applicants the chance to share their technological insights, find complementary expertise and form teams ahead of the concept paper deadline.
How to apply
The first stage of the application process is the submission of a concept paper (3-page maximum), which will allow applicants to receive feedback from the programme team. The call for full proposals will then open in February – you do not need to have submitted a concept paper to submit a full proposal. Read the call for proposals and apply below.
Concept paper submission deadline: 19 January 2026 (14:00 GMT)
Full proposal window opening: 20 February 2026
Full proposal submission deadline: 02 April 2026 (12:00 BST)
Resources
Clarification questions
If you have any questions, please use the chat function on this page for the quickest response – you'll find the icon in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. It can guide you to the right information or connect you with the ARIA team if needed. We’ll update this page regularly with questions and answers.
NB: clarification questions that need to be reviewed by the ARIA team should be submitted via the chat function no later than 4 days prior to the relevant deadline date. Clarification questions received after this date will not be reviewed.