Heven AeroTech raises $100M for hydrogen-powered UAS

Heven AeroTech, a developer of hydrogen-powered uncrewed aerial systems, or UAS, this week said it has closed a $100 million Series B round. This latest round of funding values the company at $1 billion.

“Reaching unicorn status validates not just our technology, but [also] our execution,” stated Bentzion Levinson, founder and CEO of Heven AeroTech.

“This capital will enable us to scale U.S. manufacturing capacity, accelerate quantum-enabled capabilities across our platform, and deliver long-endurance hydrogen-powered systems at the speed and volume our national security customers demand,” he added. “We’re building for the battlefield of today and tomorrow.”

Founded in 2019, Heven AeroTech specializes in the development and manufacturing of hydrogen fuel cell propulsion for extended-endurance aerial systems. The Sterling, Va.-based company said its flagship Z1 platform achieves flight times exceeding 10 hours and ranges of over 600 miles, delivering long flight ranges and operational resilience for a wide range of missions.

Heven AeroTech to invest in three priority areas

Heven AeroTech said it will use its latest funding across three strategic priorities, which align with observed demand from for defense, public safety, and commercial customers:

U.S. manufacturing: The company plans to expand its domestic production infrastructure to meet surging customer demand and eliminate supply chain dependencies.
Rapid fielding: It will build out hydrogen generation and logistics infrastructure to support persistent forward operations.
Advanced systems and quantum integration: Heven AeroTech said it will develop quantum-secure communications, alternative positioning and navigation systems for GPS-denied environments, and AI-powered autonomous operations.

IonQ partnership leads to quantum computing division

The round is being led by strategic investor IonQ, a leader in quantum computing, alongside returning investors that include Texas Venture Partners. Heven AeroTech said the new investment will enable it to better meet escalating demand from U.S. Special Operations Command, combatant commands, and allied forces for long-endurance, energy-independent UAS platforms.

The funding announcement came on the heels of Heven AeroTech’s strategic partnership with IonQ. With this collaboration, the company will immediately launch a new engineering division focusing on integrating quantum computing capabilities directly into its platforms.

This new division is intended to expand Heven’s product offerings to provide customers with solutions for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) requirements in contested and degraded operating theaters.