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
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)]()
Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)
Cummings Aerospace presented its turbojet-powered Hellhound loitering munition at SOF Week 2025, offering a man-portable solution aligned with the US Army’s LASSO requirements.
-
![SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale]()
SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale
PDW has revealed its Attritable Multirotor First Person View drone at SOF Week 2025, offering special operations forces a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from Ukraine.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions]()
SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions
Teledyne FLIR is highlighting the emerging requirements for 'recoverable and re-usable' loitering munitions across the contemporary operating environment during this week’s SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America]()
SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America
High-performance maritime industry player Kraken Technology Group, based in the UK, has used the SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida this week to debut its K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessel (USV) to the North American market.
-
![Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military]()
Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military
Red Cat and Palladyne AI recently conducted a cross-platform collaborative flight involving three diverse heterogeneous drones.
-
![Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures]()
Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has driven another stage of evolution for drones and the counter measures to defend against them.
