Redazione RHC : 31 August 2025 13:40
At Outlying Landing Field Seagle in California, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps tested a new system that allows ships to “see beyond the horizon.”
From May 19 to 21, specialists demonstrated a combination of high-altitude balloons and drones, both hydrogen-powered devices. The experiment concluded a four-year program funded through the U.S. Department of Defense’s OECIF, responsible for implementing innovative energy solutions.
The key idea is to use hydrogen both as a lifting gas for balloons and as a fuel for drones. This approach reduces dependence on complex logistics and enables long-term surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting, and communications operations. Rick Stroman, head of the NRL’s Alternative Energy Section, noted that the gas could replace helium in military balloons while simultaneously powering long-endurance drones. Combined use also extends the control range by bouncing signals from the pods.
High-altitude platforms can carry sensors and transponders. When combined with drones, they reduce the number of missions and expand the monitoring area. RuthAnn Darling, director of the Department of Defense’s Energy Innovation Program, emphasized that mobility is impossible without a sustainable energy supply, whether from ships, aircraft, or unmanned systems.
She added that the use of hydrogen technologies is particularly important when operating in dispersed areas and on remote islands, where traditional supply is difficult. The Marine Corps has specifically invited Marines to evaluate the system.
The ability to maintain a payload on a balloon for weeks after launch is a game changer for reconnaissance, says Captain Joshua Ashley of the Expeditionary Power Directorate. Early engagement allows the Marines not only to influence research priorities but also to prepare for military deployment.
The Navy already has radar, satellites, and drones to extend its surveillance range, but adversaries are increasingly trying to blind or jam these assets through electronic warfare.
This makes resilience and independence from external fuel supplies crucial. Tests have confirmed that a combination of a hydrogen balloon and a drone can provide reconnaissance beyond the line of sight of a ship, extending its endurance and increasing its effectiveness.
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