Guofu Hydrogen Energy and United Aircraft Forge Partnership to Advance Hydrogen Aviation
China’s Guofu Hydrogen Energy has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with United Aircraft Group to accelerate the use of hydrogen across the emerging low-altitude economy.
The partnership will focus on integrating hydrogen energy technologies into advanced aviation systems, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with ambitions to expand into space launch infrastructure and other high-end applications.
Both companies bring complementary strengths to the collaboration. Guofu Hydrogen Energy has established capabilities across the hydrogen value chain—from liquefaction and storage to refuelling and power systems—while United Aircraft is a leading developer of industrial UAV platforms.
The initial phase of the partnership will centre on adapting hydrogen power systems for drone platforms, with the goal of creating benchmark products for the sector. A joint project team has already been formed to accelerate the conversion of the T1400 UAV to liquid hydrogen propulsion, with test flight verification targeted for the first half of the year.
Subsequent phases are expected to broaden the scope of cooperation, including the development of hydrogen fuel supply systems for commercial space launch sites and wider deployment across low-altitude and aerospace applications.
The agreement aligns with China’s broader industrial strategy, which has identified the low-altitude economy as a key growth sector and emphasised the role of future energy systems—particularly hydrogen—in driving green and low-carbon transformation.
By combining hydrogen technology with aviation innovation, the partnership aims to establish new commercial pathways and scalable models for clean energy adoption in high-performance transport and aerospace sectors.
Guofu Hydrogen Energy said the collaboration represents a step towards positioning hydrogen as a core driver of next-generation manufacturing and emerging industries, as the country seeks to integrate clean energy solutions into advanced technological ecosystems.
