Allen Frazier
A Michigan defense contractor has developed a mobile refueling system that generates hydrogen fuel from solar power and atmospheric moisture, enabling military drones to operate continuously for up to six months in remote areas without fuel resupply.
Sesame Solar and hydrogen drone manufacturer Heven AeroTech announced the Drone Refueling Nanogrid last week, a trailer-sized system designed to address fuel logistics challenges in contested or remote environments. A prime contractor is already marketing the technology to War Department customers and allied nations, with particular interest from the Indo-Pacific region.
The system pairs with Heven's Z-1 vertical takeoff and landing drones, which run on hydrogen fuel cells instead of batteries or gasoline. The combination delivers significant tactical advantages.
“Silent, hydrogen-powered drones outperform traditional battery-powered or gas-powered drones for several reasons,” said Lauren Flanagan, CEO of Sesame Solar. “First, most battery-powered drones can only run for an hour or two before needing to be recharged. Both battery and gas-powered drones have higher thermal and acoustic signatures, which increase enemy detection.”
The Z-1 can fly for over eight hours per mission—roughly six times longer than battery-powered systems—while the hydrogen fuel cells produce lower heat and noise signatures that make the drones harder to detect and target.
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