Russian Drone Under Development With Hydrogen Engine

A hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicle is under development in Russia. The project was announced by Mikhail Kovalchuk, president of Natsionalnyy Issledovatelskiy Tsentr “Kurchatovskiy Institut” (National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”), during a meeting of Russia’s Maritime Board.

According to Kovalchuk, the effort aims to create what he described as the world’s first drone equipped with a hydrogen engine. He noted that the Soviet Union had previously developed the first aircraft using similar technology, and that current projects continue that scientific tradition.

New Types of Fuel

Hydrogen engines are considered a relatively new and promising direction for aviation and unmanned systems because of hydrogen’s high energy density and the potential for lower emissions. Such propulsion systems could increase aircraft endurance and expand their operational capabilities in challenging environments.

At the Intersection of Sciences

Developing this type of technology requires combining advances in materials science, energy systems, and digital control platforms. For that reason, the project is linked to the growth of domestic scientific schools and ongoing research in advanced energy technologies.

Continuing a Tradition

Many modern projects, officials say, draw on Soviet-era scientific groundwork. A number of contemporary Russian weapons systems, for example, trace their origins to mid-20th-century research, when foundational ideas in new types of engines and power systems were first established. Today’s Russian scientists describe their work as an extension of that legacy, while focusing on peaceful technologies.

Global interest in hydrogen technologies is growing. Their development could mark a significant step in the evolution of unmanned systems. As in any aircraft, propulsion efficiency directly affects flight range and functional capabilities. A new type of fuel, researchers argue, opens up broad possibilities in that direction.