Ballard Unmanned Systems will strengthen and expand Honeywell’s unmanned aerial systems and urban air mobility product portfolio. Credit: Natalie Rhea Riggs on Unsplash.  

Aircraft engines and avionics manufacturer Honeywell International has acquired privately held Ballard Unmanned Systems’ assets.

Located in Southborough, Massachusetts, Ballard Unmanned Systems is a subsidiary of Ballard Power Systems.

The business specialises in designing and producing stored-hydrogen proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems that power unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

As part of this deal, Honeywell will acquire the key intellectual property, inventory and equipment of Ballard Unmanned Systems.

Ballard’s fuel-cell experts’ team will also join Honeywell under the deal.

The two sides did not disclose the financial details of the deal.

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Additionally, the two companies are working on an agreement for a long-term strategic collaboration to bring together Ballard’s fuel cell technology expertise and Honeywell’s aerospace leadership.

Ballard president and CEO Randy MacEwen said: “We remain positive on the long-term outlook for fuel cell propulsion systems in the UAV market.

“However, we determined to divest this non-core systems business given our strategic focus on the heavy and medium-duty motive markets of bus, truck, train and marine, where we expect scaled commercialisation and growth through 2030 and beyond.

“We believe the UAV business will be best positioned within the Honeywell enterprise and look forward to our ongoing collaboration with Honeywell and growing the exciting business opportunities for a range of urban air mobility and broader aerospace applications.”

Honeywell is planning to launch a family of fuel cell power systems for different UAS vehicles.

The two companies will also work jointly on an array of aviation applications.