Hydrogen-powered drone manufacturer Heven Aerotech will sharpen its focus on federal defence deployment following a leadership reshuffle, appointing a defence industry veteran as its Chief Growth Officer.

The US-based company said the selection of Lexi Alexander strengthened its direction in “defence, aerospace, and advanced technology,” as national security demand grows for unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

Former US Naval Research Laboratory official, Dr Karen Swider-Lyons, was also appointed as Vice-President of Hydrogen.

Since the beginning of this year, the firm has more than doubled its workforce to 88.

Formerly HevenDrones, it launched its first hydrogen-powered UAS in 2023, claiming improved flight endurance, payload capacity, and environmental impact compared to battery-driven drones.

CEO Ben Levinson called Alexander’s appointment a “critical step” enabling the company to “navigate large-scale defence acquisitions.”

UASs have become a defining technology in modern defence, with reduced acoustic and thermal signatures making them more difficult to detect than conventional systems.

While their deployment remains relatively niche, this has reshaped how some militaries conduct reconnaissance, targeting, and battlefield surveillance.

This week, UK-based Intelligent Energy (IE) launched a new 120kW fuel cell system for heavy-lift fixed-wing UASs, having secured a “record commercial order” for its fuel cell drone powertrain from an unnamed private sector organisation.

Greg Harris, CCO of IE, said that drone operators “are increasingly turning to hydrogen propulsion.”

In January, drone manufacturer Skyeton announced its hydrogen fuel cell-powered UAS entered “full-scale” combat duty with a unit of the Ukrainian Defence Forces.