Developed by Israel-based BlueBird Aero Systems and powered by Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, the world's first long endurance, commercial hydrogen fuel cell powered Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) named "Boomerang" will be showcased as one of the top innovations at this year's upcoming AUVSI conference in Washington, D.C. Horizon will also display its brand new AEROPAK, a new self-contained 2kg fuel cell power system able to deliver 900Wh, which can increase the flight endurance of small and stealthy UAS by as much as 300 percent.

Unmanned aircraft are used in a variety of military, homeland security and civilian applications. The unique ability to perform long endurance missions with a mini UAS, as presented by BlueBird's Boomerang, is a great benefit especially for border patrol, infrastructure surveillance, critical assets and environmental monitoring missions.

BlueBird's "Boomerang" is a field-operational 9kg electric powered UAS which is now able to fly for over nine hours using Horizon's high performance hydrogen-electric power system. BlueBird Aero Systems concluded a three-year effort to integrate the Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology into a specially designed UAS, developing support systems like hybrid capabilities for system power redundancy, fuel-cell cooling mechanism and more. The fuel cell-powered UAS is already licensed for flights in Israel and is graded as a "matured" system.

Hydrogen-electric powered UAS will bring important new capabilities - reduced acoustic signature, smaller size, as well as increased effectiveness in increasingly important persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Where battery performance limits the effective use of these promising systems, Horizon's next-generation fuel cell power systems will improve versatility and open new mission possibilities for small aircraft such as BlueBird's Boomerang UAS. In addition to increasing flight endurance, Horizon's new fuel cell system also makes it possible to increase the capability of smaller and lower cost aircraft by integrating more power draining electronic devices, such as electro-optical sensors, infrared cameras and laser designators.

Over the next 10 years, industry analysts expect the acquisition market for UAS to exceed $44 billion in the U.S. alone. According to Ron Stearns of G2 Solutions in Seattle, WA, "the use of pervasive UASs is increasing because the persistent ISR capabilities they bring are unmatched. Horizon's fuel cells have the potential to improve the Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) configuration for tactical UAS propulsion, leading to increased UAS endurance or expanded sensor and/or communications-relay capabilities."

Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies and BlueBird Aero Systems will be located in Booth 1170 in Exhibit Hall E at the AUVSI Unmanned Systems North America 2009, Aug 11-13 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.

Headquartered in Singapore, Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies develops and manufactures high performance lightweight and compact fuel cell systems used in aerospace. Horizon has been demonstrating its high-performance fuel cell capabilities with a series of pioneering flights since 2006, which included "Hyfish," integrated by the German Air & Space Agency (DLR) and the "Pterosoar," which set a new FAI world record for distance in 2007 (NASA), now aiming for a new 16 hour flight endurance world record this year. www.horizonfuelcell.com/aerospace.htm

Since 2002, BlueBird Aero Systems specializes in the design, development and production of Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and peripheral equipment. BlueBird delivers unique, unprecedented, combat proven solutions to meet the challenges and needs of the military, homeland security and civilian UAS markets. BlueBird's products are designed for high cost-effectiveness, modularity, ease of use, high reliability, uniqueness and outstanding performance in all weather conditions.