The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), in collaboration with the US Navy, has awarded Skydweller U.S. a $14 million contract to advance and integrate technologies in support of Skydweller’s development of its extreme-endurance, solar-powered aircraft.

This effort will expand the aircraft’s operational envelope, allowing it to be used in more places around the world while also improving mission reliability and system flexibility.

The primary goal of the project is to create and integrate key hardware and software that uses clean technology to improve efficiency and performance. Hydrogen fuel cells, a lightweight hydrogen storage system, advanced battery modules, and advanced mission management software are among the areas of focus. Skydweller will begin ground and flight testing of these new technologies once the integration is complete.

The team will perform significant engineering, analysis, modeling, and simulation on several aspects of the system, including airframe structural components, power system performance, mission control performance, and energy management, in addition to hardware prototyping.