Defense Innovation Unit Awards Skydweller Aero Inc contract for extreme-endurance solar aircraft systems, focus on hydrogen and advanced battery modules.
Joint effort will increase operational envelope, utilizing advanced clean technology.
Skydweller U.S. Inc., a subsidiary of Skydweller Aero Inc., a U.S.-Spanish aerospace company developing solar-powered aircraft for defense and commercial industries, announced it has been awarded a $14 million contract with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), in conjunction with U.S.
Navy, to advance and integrate technologies in support of Skydweller’s development of its extreme-endurance, solar-powered aircraft. This effort will increase the aircraft’s operational envelope, enabling broad, global use, while improving mission reliability and system flexibility.
Dr. Robert Miller, CEO:
Furthering perpetual flight aircraft for solving next-generation government sensing and monitoring solutions is critical to national security.
“This collaboration will accelerate the development of our platform, providing a viable, carbon-neutral solution which expands the aircraft mission capabilities significantly.”
“This contract allows Skydweller to continue supporting the Department of Defense by addressing the current needs of our Combatant Commands and creating military-grade unmanned aerial systems that can operate safely and reliably at record endurance in various, changing environmental conditions.”
The project’s primary objective is the development and integration of key hardware and software that leverage clean technology to increase efficiency and performance.
The areas of focus are as follows: hydrogen fuel cells, a lightweight hydrogen storage system, advanced battery modules, and advanced mission management software. Once integration is complete, Skydweller will transition into ground and flight testing of these new technologies.
In addition to hardware prototyping, the team will perform significant engineering, analysis, and modeling and simulation on several aspects of the system including airframe structural components, power system performance, mission control performance, and energy management. Thanks for staying up to date with Hydrogen Central.
About Skydweller U.S. Inc.
Skydweller U.S. Inc. is a subsidiary of Skydweller Aero Inc., a cutting-edge aerospace company developing solar powered aircraft solutions capable of achieving perpetual flight with heavy, powerful payload capacity.
Utilizing technology based upon the longest continuous renewably powered flight program in history, this fast-growing startup is developing a new class of unmanned aircraft, providing the persistence of geosynchronous satellites with the powerful sensing capabilities and range of a large, airborne platform.
With a flexible payload system, including: communications relay, 4G/5G cellular, day/night full-motion video, satellite communication, imaging radar, and more, Skydweller will enhance commercial and government telecommunication, geospatial, meteorological and emergency operation efforts around the world, allowing customers to operate persistently in more challenging areas for longer durations, while reducing environmental impact.
For more information about Skydweller, visit www.skydweller.aero.
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Defense Innovation Unit Awards Skydweller Aero Inc. Contract for Extreme-Endurance Solar Aircraft Systems, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, April 04, 2022