Over-the-horizon vision technology tested by the US Navy and Marines, utilizing hydrogen balloons and drones
U.S. Navy and Marines Test Hydrogen-Powered Balloon and Drone System in California
In a significant step towards advancing operational capabilities, the U.S. Navy and Marines have recently tested a hydrogen-powered balloon and drone system at Outlying Landing Field Seagle in Twentynine Palms, California.
The demonstration, part of a four-year program funded by the Department of Defense's Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund (OECIF), aimed to extend over-the-horizon sensing and communications. According to Rick Stroman, Ph.D., head of NRL's Alternative Energy Section, hydrogen can be a feasible alternative to helium for DoD-relevant balloons and powers long-endurance drones.
Early engagement is crucial in ensuring new technologies match operational needs before moving to acquisition, as planners emphasize. The Marines were invited to give their feedback on the system during the demonstration. Capt. Joshua Ashley, U.S. Marine Corps, said the ability to maintain a sensor payload on a High-Altitude Balloon (HAB) for weeks after launch over an area of interest is a game-changer.
The hydrogen-powered HABs can carry sensors and communications relays, reducing the number of sorties required for missions. By combining HABs with drones, operators can bounce signals off the hydrogen to extend control ranges, thereby extending the area forces can monitor.
RuthAnne Darling, Director of Operational Energy-Innovation in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, noted that the hydrogen approach could help forces operate across remote island chains and dispersed areas. The Navy already uses various tools for expanding awareness but often faces pressure to degrade or deny those tools by adversaries, making resilience and energy independence vital.
The company that developed the hydrogen-powered balloon and drone systems used in the Navy and Marines tests in California is not explicitly named in the provided search results. However, it is clear that this technology could change how the Navy maintains surveillance, targeting, and communications in contested areas, allowing for persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting (ISRT) operations without relying on heavier logistics.
This innovative test is a testament to the ongoing efforts to modernize and adapt military technology to meet the challenges of the 21st century. With continued development and refinement, hydrogen-powered balloons and drones could play a significant role in the future of military operations.
