Ukraine has, for the first time, sent into combat a hybrid drone powered by hydrogen fuel. According to the builder Skyeton, a variant of its Raybird was deployed for full-scale combat duty with the Ukrainian Armed Forces in an active war zone.

Ukraine has, for the first time, sent into combat a hybrid drone powered by hydrogen fuel. According to the builder Skyeton, a variant of its Raybird was deployed for full-scale combat duty with the Ukrainian Armed Forces in an active war zone.

Archived version: https://archive.is/newest/https://newatlas.com/military/world-first-ukraine-hydrogen-drone/

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  • Dupelet@piefed.socialEnglish
    2·
    6 days ago

    Ok, so? What’s the benefit as compared to a gasoline hybrid? If a PR piece can’t mention that, I’m inclined to think there isn’t any. In addition to the downside of needing an entire new more complicated supply chain for the fuel.

      • Dupelet@piefed.socialEnglish
        1·
        6 days ago

        ICE engines are not particularly noisy, it’s rotors that make the most noise. IDK about the exhaust, but I can only think of thermal sensors and shouldn’t hydrogen be exothermic too?

        • OpenPassageways@lemmy.zipEnglish
          1·
          6 days ago

          The only other advantage I can think of would be maintenance of an ICE vs an electric motor but the hydrogen stuff would need maintenance too and the fuel would be equally difficult to transport and store.

      • jol@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        2·
        6 days ago

        Not necessarily because diesel can be at atmospheric pressure while hydrogen needs heavier containers to keep it pressurised and liquid.

      • Dupelet@piefed.socialEnglish
        1·
        6 days ago

        You can do it with gasoline too, while using some of it to hightail out of there :)

        WDYM about the exhaust, though? I’d imagine the heat trail from combusting either fuel would be about the same.

        • real_squids@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          2·
          6 days ago

          WDYM about the exhaust, though?

          With a cat it will mostly be water vapour right? Not really a priority at war but it’s nice. And HICE engines have higher power density, which makes sense for recon drones, unless the tanks nullify that.

          • Dupelet@piefed.socialEnglish
            1·
            6 days ago

            Environmental friendliness is way down the list of priorities in war, from the perspective of the army.

            And HICE engines have higher power density, which makes sense for recon drones, unless the tanks nullify that.

            Right, that’s what I mean by the article not mentioning any actual advantages, which makes me think they’re not actually winning the tradeoff game.