PARIS – French startup HyLight has raised €13 million (US$15 million) to expand its fleet of autonomous, hydrogen-powered airships used for infrastructure inspections as it seeks to replace helicopter missions across Europe, the company said Monday.
The funding round was backed by Rubio Impact Ventures, DRW and Teampact Ventures, along with existing investors Y Combinator and Ring Capital.
Founded in 2022, HyLight said its aircraft have completed more than 750 flight hours and inspected thousands of kilometers of infrastructure across Europe. Its customers include energy companies Enedis, NaTran and Téréga, railway operator SNCF Réseau and construction group VINCI.
The company plans to increase the number of aircraft it operates simultaneously from four to 15 by 2027. The funding will support production, artificial intelligence development, recruitment and expansion into European markets, particularly Germany and the Netherlands, HyLight said.
The 12-meter-long HyLighter uses hydrogen to power its electric propulsion system and can fly for up to 10 hours, with a target range of 350 kilometers.
It can carry up to 10 kilograms of equipment, including cameras, LiDAR sensors and methane detectors.
HyLight’s software can identify and geolocate more than 50 types of infrastructure defects and vegetation-related risks, helping maintenance teams prioritize repairs, it said.
Helicopters remain widely used to inspect power lines, pipelines and railways, despite their operating costs and emissions.
