China’s multi-rotor AR-20 drone completed hydrogen-powered flight test
The AR-20, a multi-rotor drone domestically developed by China for security surveillance, border patrol and anti-terrorism missions, has spawned a hydrogen-powered variant that recently made its maiden flight.
The successful test proved that the agile, plateau-operable light drone has greatly extended its endurance thanks to the new-energy battery, the aircraft’s maker said.
Developed by China Helicopter Research and Development Institute, a subsidiary of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), a major contractor of the Chinese military, the AR-20 is a 20-kilogram-class variable pitch multi-rotor drone that was originally equipped with a lithium battery, the institute said in a statement released on its WeChat account.
The test flight demonstrated that the output from the hydrogen-powered battery can meet the demands of the AR-20’s flight, and it can greatly extend the drone’s endurance, bringing significant value to the AR-20’s applications in both military and civilian fields as well as its own capabilities, according to the statement.
Aside from the power source, the drone has an integrated fuselage structure made of composite materials and a multi-rotor system, giving it significant advantages over its competitors, including rapid deployment, low noise, good wind resistance, outstanding performance in plateau regions and high efficiency, the statement said.
