French startup HyLight has secured €13 million in funding to scale its fleet of autonomous hydrogen-powered airships. The company, founded in 2022, specializes in inspecting critical infrastructure such as power lines, gas pipelines, and railways, aiming to replace traditional helicopter missions.
The HyLighter airship measures 12 meters in length and features a 350-kilometer range with up to ten hours of flight time. It carries sensors including LiDAR and methane detectors, providing 1 mm/pixel resolution. The aircraft is authorized by the DGAC and EASA for beyond visual line of sight operations.
HyLight currently operates four aircraft and serves clients including Enedis, NaTran, Téréga, VINCI, and SNCF Réseau. The company plans to increase its fleet to 15 operational units by 2027 and intends to hire 50 new employees across engineering, AI, and operations.
The new capital will support the industrialization of the fleet, the expansion of automated data analysis capabilities, and entry into new European markets. Germany and the Netherlands have been identified as priority regions for the company's commercial growth.
