Raybird Hydrogen-Powered Reconnaissance UAV Enters Frontline in Ukraine
- HYSKY Society
- 20 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Skyeton Drone from Ukraine
Ukrainian UAV maker Skyeton says a hydrogen-fuel-cell hybrid version of its Raybird reconnaissance drone has entered full-scale combat duty with a unit of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, flying missions in the combat zone as part of interagency testing that began in December 2025.
(Top image: Credit — Skyeton)
Reporting shared by sUAS News describes how Skyeton engineers developed a new airframe architecture for the Raybird to integrate a hydrogen power system—redistributing space and weight to support the fuel cell and optimize the design for mass production. The Raybird is used for long-range reconnaissance, and the hydrogen-electric approach is positioned as a way to improve operational efficiency while reducing signatures that can give away a drone’s position.
The mass-produced Raybird typically runs on an internal combustion engine, enabling “over 28 hours” of flight endurance, while the hybrid hydrogen-electric variant is currently flying “approximately 12 hours” as of January 2026, with a target of 20 hours as development continues. (suasnews.com)
Roman Knyazhenko, CEO of Skyeton Ukraine:
“We have converted two years of laboratory testing into a new aircraft concept: it is the same class and weight, but a completely redesigned concept based on electric propulsion. Hydrogen fuel is a solution that allows us to combine all the advantages of an electric motor – high reliability, power, and ease of maintenance – with the long-duration continuous flight that is a hallmark of our UAV.
Maintaining a balance of these characteristics is vital for us, as the Raybird performs complex deep reconnaissance tasks using high-tech payloads, and the average duration of such missions exceeds 10 hours.” (suasnews.com)
Hydrogen Reconnaissance Drone
According to the same reporting, the hydrogen hybrid Raybird is intended to deliver operational advantages beyond endurance, including a “negligible thermal signature,” a higher operational altitude range, and significantly quieter operations than an internal-combustion version—attributes that matter for deep ISR missions where survivability is everything. (suasnews.com)
During R&D, Skyeton says it addressed several real-world deployment barriers: ensuring climate resilience across a -35°C to +55°C operating range, reducing hydrogen permeability through improved connections and pressure reduction, and planning field logistics so the system can be deployed as a self-sufficient package. (suasnews.com)
On fueling and infrastructure, Skyeton describes two pathways for frontline operations: (a) units receive pre-filled tanks that can be swapped “like cartridges,” or (b) units receive a compact mobile system that produces hydrogen on-site as needed—an important point for anyone thinking about how hydrogen aviation scales beyond prototypes and into real operations. (suasnews.com)
Finally, Skyeton notes the hydrogen fuel cell drone is preparing for a “codification process” to enable broader adoption across the Ukrainian Defense Forces. (suasnews.com)
About the Company
Skyeton is a Ukrainian unmanned aircraft manufacturer behind the Raybird fixed-wing UAS, a platform the company says has amassed extensive combat experience and is designed for long-range reconnaissance missions with rapid deployment and swappable payloads. (skyeton.com)
FAQ
What is a hydrogen-electric hybrid UAV?
A hydrogen-electric hybrid UAV typically uses a hydrogen fuel cell to generate electricity, which powers an electric motor (sometimes alongside batteries for peak loads), combining electric propulsion benefits with extended endurance.
Why does thermal signature matter for reconnaissance drones?
Lower thermal signature can make a UAV harder to detect with infrared sensors, improving survivability in contested airspace.
What are the main endurance numbers cited for Raybird?
The internal-combustion Raybird is cited at “over 28 hours,” while the hydrogen hybrid is cited at “approximately 12 hours” as of January 2026, with work underway to reach 20 hours. (suasnews.com)
What does “codification” mean in this context?
It generally refers to formal standardization/approval steps that allow a system to be broadly procured, fielded, and supported across military units.
What field logistics approaches were described for hydrogen?
Two scenarios were described: swapping pre-filled tanks “like cartridges,” or using a compact mobile system that produces hydrogen on-site as needed. (suasnews.com)
How does this relate to hydrogen aviation beyond drones?
Many of the same challenges—fuel storage, refueling logistics, safety, operational procedures, and certification pathways—show up when hydrogen scales to larger aircraft.
Why pair hydrogen with electric propulsion?
Hydrogen fuel cells can extend endurance compared with batteries alone, while electric motors can offer reliability, lower noise, and simplified maintenance compared with combustion systems.
8What kind of missions is Raybird used for?
Raybird is described as a long-range reconnaissance UAS used for deep ISR-style missions. (suasnews.com)
What operating temperatures were cited for the hydrogen-hybrid powerplant?
The report cites operations across -35°C to +55°C for both ICE and hydrogen-hybrid versions. (suasnews.com)
What’s the bigger hydrogen takeaway for aviation builders?
Hydrogen systems can’t be evaluated only on aircraft performance—fueling, transport, safety procedures, and “ready-to-use” deployment models can be the difference between a demo and an operational capability.
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