Horizon's hydrogen fuel cells fly Elbit Systems' Skylark I-LE UAV

Horizon Energy Systems announced the successful test flight of its AEROPAK fuel cell power system onboard Elbit Systems Skylark I-LE UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System).

An official test flight was recently carried out in Israel. The test flight was without precedent, since it is the first ever test of a fully operational system using the Horizon AEROPAK fuel cell power system, including take-off and recovery with an operational payload integrated onboard. Equipped with the AEROPAK fuel cell system, Skylark ILE will offer its users enhanced flight duration, doubling the current endurance of the UAS. Delivering 900Wh net usable energy per liter of fuel, Horizon's new AEROPAK power system successfully passed Skylark I-LE tests with flying colors, proving it is suitable and rugged enough for military use.

The Skylark I-LE is a tactical man-portable UAS, currently used in close range beyond -the-next-hill surveillance and reconnaissance missions by several nations. The silent electric UAS is highly autonomous from take-off to recovery, providing covert operation with maximum simplicity and efficiency. Designed for robust operation in various environmental conditions, the Skylark I-LE system entered operational service in 2004 and has accumulated over 20,000 hours of successful operations, in some of the most demanding conflict zones around the globe.

Simulating real battlefield conditions and an actual payload in order to test the limits of the new fuel cell technology, Skylark's new AEROPAK-enabled propulsion engine was subjected to a number of operating scenarios. These tests included repeated take-offs and abrupt landings on various terrains to determine if the fuel cell was sufficiently ruggedized to withstand high levels of shock. The UAS was also flown in windy and turbulent weather to gauge the AEROPAK's capability to sustain continuous high power drain from the aircraft's motor.

Richard Liow, UAS systems manager at Horizon Energy Systems in Singapore, further commented "The AEROPAK has passed Elbit Systems tests and is now proven to be a ready drop-in replacement for battery packs currently in use. We are immensely proud of this achievement and believe that the AEROPAK powered Skylark I-LE will be an unparalleled combination".

Source: Horizon

Follow Shephard News on Twitter