Heven Drones, a Miami-based company with a research center in Israel, unveiled a new hydrogen-powered drone called the Raider at IDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi (February 17-21).
Benzion Levinson, founder and CEO of Heven Drones, said that the Raider, with a wingspan of 7 m and a maximum take-off weight of 119 kg, has a payload capacity of 23 kg, can stay in the air for 12 hours and cover a distance of more than 1,000 km.
Hydrogen Powered Raider Drone at IDEX 2025
The platform has a modular fuselage design with two beams, which increases aerodynamic stability and allows it to quickly adapt to various operating profiles without the need for extensive recalibration. Powered in direct flight by a pusher propeller located at the rear, the Raider can take off and land vertically using four propellers mounted on a double-girder fuselage, which allows it to be used in terrain with difficult terrain. The Raider is also equipped with a modular battery system to enhance its hover capabilities, further ensuring its ease of use in the field. It will take 15 minutes to assemble the drone.
Since the Raider is a hydrogen–powered drone, it provides virtually silent operation with an ultra-low level of thermal radiation and acoustic signature, which allows it to be used unnoticed in delicate missions. Its ability to control large areas through multiplatform and multi-sensor configurations makes it particularly valuable for constant surveillance and protection of troops.
In addition, hydrogen production at the launch site provides the UAV with energy independence, ensuring continuous operation in remote or resource-limited conditions. According to the developer, the Raider's hydrogen generator is small enough to be mounted on a trailer and towed by a Humvee-sized tactical vehicle.
The Raider UAV is designed for conducting tactical reconnaissance. It can act as a logistics platform in combat conditions, as well as deliver strikes. According to the Heven Drones documentation, the development is characterized by reliability. The flight time before major repairs is 1000 hours, which reduces maintenance requirements and increases operational readiness.
The manufacturer plans that the hydrogen-powered drone will take to the air at the end of 2025 and will be put into operation next year.
When asked why hydrogen-fueled UAVs have not become more widespread, B. Levinson replied that they create many technical problems, but over the past four years, a team of 50 Heven Drones specialists has overcome them.
In fact, the Raider is a continuation of the H2D250 hydrogen-powered UAV from Heven Drones. It is a more compact aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 25 kg and a payload capacity of 4.5 kg, but with a flight duration of more than 10 hours. The drone is already used by several clients.
According to B. Levinson, Heven Drones "is the only official supplier of hydrogen-fueled unmanned aerial vehicles for the Israel Defense Forces," and the H2D250 is also used by US special forces. According to B. Levinson, American troops are particularly interested in combining the range, flight duration and energy independence of the H2D250 for operations in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to the materials of the resource euro-sd.com
