Zepher Flight Labs, a subsidiary of Heven AeroTech, has secured a contract modification under the Department of War’s Hydrogen at the Tactical Edge of Contested Logistics program to advance the development of its hydrogen generation trailer.
The award focuses on moving the system toward field-ready prototyping and operational evaluation. This effort is designed to provide organic hydrogen generation for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), small-unit equipment, and high-altitude balloons, reducing the military’s reliance on extended fuel convoys.
Michael Buscher, President of U.S. operations at Heven AeroTech, said, “This effort is about taking deployable hydrogen out of the lab and into real operating environments. We’re focused on delivering a system that units can rely on when fuel access is constrained, and endurance directly affects mission success.”
Heven AeroTech, a U.S.-based pioneer of hydrogen-powered, long-endurance unmanned aerial systems, will collaborate with H3 Dynamics to refine the trailer’s design. The technical updates include expanding solar capacity to increase off-grid hydrogen production, improving mobility, and creating a more intuitive user experience.
The HyTEC program is led by the Defense Innovation Unit, a Department of War field activity tasked with accelerating the adoption of commercial technology into the military. By focusing on self-sustaining energy capabilities, the program aims to mitigate the risks associated with traditional fuel logistics.
Bentzion Levinson, Founder and CEO of Heven AeroTech, added, “Logistics risk is a real operational constraint, not an abstract problem. HyTEC allows us to work directly with the Department to mature energy systems designed from the outset to operate independently at the tactical edge.”
Work under the current award will continue through prototype refinement and government-led demonstrations to validate the system’s performance and reliability in austere and contested conditions.
