Lockheed Martin is backing technology start-up H3X in the development of an integrated modular motor drive that it says will deliver the quantum leap in power density and fault tolerance needed to power 50- to 100-seat aircraft. The value of the U.S. aerospace and defense giant’s investment in H3X was not disclosed in a February 28 announcement, but it takes H3X’s funding total to $9 million.
According to H3X, the new capital will allow it to accelerate the development and commercialization of its HPDM family of motor drives and scale up its Louisville, Colorado headquarters to be ready for production. The company, which was founded in 2020, is already in talks with aircraft manufacturers about possible applications for its 2.8-megawatt HPDM-3000 drive, which is expected to deliver a continuous power density of 12.5 kW/kg. It is also developing smaller drives designated as the HPDM-30 and the HPDM-250.
