Abdullah Al-Haqim 
A recent report issued by the Conflict Armament Research of the smuggling of hydrogen fuel cells to Yemen, which may give the Houthi drones a greater ability to hide and a longer flight.
Hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity by the interaction of compressed oxygen and hydrogen, which leads to the emission of water vapor without heat or mentioned noise. While the traditional drones that operate with gas engines or lithium batteries can fly for a distance of up to 750 miles, the use of hydrogen fuel cells may raise this range to three times, and makes their discovery more difficult through audio and infrared sensors.
The report showed that some of the components of this technique were manufactured in China and marketing it for drones, with compressed hydrogen tanks that were incorrectly classified as oxygen cylinders. These parts were found in a boat that was intercepted off Yemen, along with guided missiles, radars, ship tracking devices, and hundreds of drones.
Hydrogen fuel cell technology is due to past decades, as NASA used it during the missions of “Apollo”, and later appeared in the military drones in the late first decade of this century during the American wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. With the development of technology, these systems have become a preferred option for military and commercial drones due to their ability to store more energy compared to lithium batteries, allowing to carry heavier weights and flying longer distances.
Also, fuel cells provide greater stability for drones thanks to reducing vibrations, which helps to improve the performance of cameras and sensors used in surveillance and reconnaissance. In addition, they are more reusable than traditional batteries, making them a more efficient and sustainable option.
It is still not certain whether these components have come directly from China, according to the report, the Houthis’ possession of this technology may indicate a shift in their military strategies, which gives them greater ability to carry out long -term operations with greater difficulty in revealing it.
