Skyeton is introducing a fresh take on the Raybird unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), adding a hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric motor for longer, quieter flights.
Unlike its internal combustion predecessor, the hydrogen-electric propulsion system keeps the drone airborne for roughly 12 hours, with engineers aiming to extend it to 20 hours.
The combination of low heat generation, high-altitude operation, and near-silent performance makes Raybird harder to detect during missions.
By pairing hydrogen fuel cells with electric propulsion, the platform demonstrates a path toward greener, more efficient UAVs for both defense and civilian use.
“Hydrogen fuel is a solution that allows us to combine all the advantages of an electric motor — high reliability, power, and ease of maintenance — with the long-duration continuous flight that is a hallmark of our UAV,” said Roman Knyazhenko, CEO of Skyeton.
He added that maintaining a balance of these characteristics is crucial, as the Raybird handles complex deep reconnaissance missions that typically last over 10 hours.
Overcoming Challenges
During development, Skyeton addressed several technical hurdles to ensure stable operation in extreme conditions.
The drone now reportedly performs efficiently in temperatures from -35 degrees to 55 degrees Celsius (-31 degrees to 131 degrees Fahrenheit).
Early issues with hydrogen leakage were resolved through improved fuel connections, pressure management, and operator handling.
On the logistics side, the Raybird features a self-contained system that allows operators to swap pre-filled hydrogen tanks like cartridges or generate hydrogen on-site.
The drone has already entered full-scale combat operations with the Ukrainian Defense Forces, flying missions in the field since December 2025 as part of interagency testing.
