For the development of a hydrogen fuel cell system for urban air mobility, South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace has been chosen to lead a national task force.

By forming a consortium with domestic firms and research institutes, the company hopes to secure core technologies while improving performance and reducing system weight by 2025.

State-run Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning has chosen Hanwha Aerospace to lead a four-year project to develop a fuel cell system for urban air mobility (UAM), an ecosystem involving flying passenger vehicles operating in urban areas.

UAM’s range and operating time can be significantly increased by using hydrogen fuel cells, which have a high energy density. Fuel cells for aviation must be light and maintain a constant, high level of power. In its role as a key member of UAM Team Korea, a public-private consultative body tasked with commercializing drone taxis by 2025, Hanwha Aerospace is a sister company of Hanwha Systems.