IE-FLIGHT 120 Project Powers Next-Gen Heavy-Lift UAVs

This month, Intelligent Energy Ltd and the Aerospace Technology Institute’s HEIGHTS programme kicked off an exciting new project: they’re rolling out the IE-FLIGHT 120, a 120 kW hydrogen fuel cell power system designed specifically for heavy-lift fixed-wing UAVs. This collaboration is perfectly timed with the UK Government’s impressive £5 billion Defence Investment Plan for drones and autonomous systems. Their goal? To tackle real-world challenges in defence, security, and logistics by giving unmanned aircraft the power they need to go the distance, all while keeping emissions at zero and turnaround times quick.

Taking Hydrogen Propulsion to New Heights

The concept is refreshingly straightforward: they’re pairing a powerful proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack with a compact balance-of-plant to create a plug-and-play drivetrain. The IE-FLIGHT 120 system churns out 120 kW of continuous electrical output, making it well-suited for fixed-wing UAVs that can carry payloads ranging from 150 to 750 kg. When you stack hydrogen fuel cells up against battery-electric options, it’s a game-changer. Fuel cells pack a much better energy-to-mass ratio, allowing these UAVs to fly three to five times longer than their battery-only counterparts.

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