- 01Li-S Energy ships Li-S cells to DEVCOM for testing.
- 02First Li-S delivery to US govt; procurement path opens.
- 03Drones gain range and payload vs Li-ion.
Li‑S Energy (ASX: LIS) has delivered its first batch of lithium-sulfur battery cells to the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) C5ISR Centre for independent evaluation and testing.
The cells have been received by the Aberdeen Proving Ground, the oldest weapons testing facility in the US, marking the first-ever delivery of Li-S technology to a US government agency.
The engagement opens a direct pathway into US Army procurement as allied forces accelerate the adoption of unmanned systems powered by lithium-sulfur cells instead of conventional lithium-ion cells, enabling extended flight distances, longer operation, and greater payload capacity.
It is a direct result of Li-S Energy’s sustained investment in cell technology and manufacturing and its plan to become a supplier of choice to the global defence sector with a strong focus on the US.
Principal Technology Centre
DEVCOM C5ISR is the US Army’s principal research, development, and engineering centre for command, control, communications, computers, cyberintelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance technologies.
It plays a central role in identifying and integrating advanced technologies including power and energy systems for US land force platforms in support of warfighter requirements and serves as a recognised gateway into formal US Army procurement.
Successful evaluation of Li-S Energy’s technology could potentially inform procurement decisions across a broad range of programs including unmanned aerial systems, ground robotics, soldier-worn equipment, and autonomous platforms.
The sale builds on the company’s growing customer pipeline for defence and unmanned systems that includes Praetorian Aeronautics, MSubs, Kea Aerospace, and a major international defence prime contractor
Commercialistion Pathway
Li-S managing director Dr Lee Finniear said shipment of the lithium-sulfur cells was a major step forward in the company’s commercialisation pathway.
“This is the result of years of disciplined technology development, hard-won manufacturing capability, and a clear strategic conviction that our lithium-sulfur chemistry can provide a broad spectrum capability enhancement for next-generation defence and drone platforms,” he said.
“The US is the world’s largest and most sophisticated defence market, and the rapid global adoption of unmanned systems is creating substantial and growing demand for lithium-sulfur batteries that perform beyond what conventional lithium-ion [batteries] currently offer.”
“The cells we have delivered to DEVCOM are purpose-built for exactly these applications—delivering the enhanced peak power and operational responsiveness that modern defence platforms require while retaining the inherent weight and energy density advantages of our lithium-sulfur chemistry.”
International Approvals
Air freight delivery to Aberdeen Proving Ground followed receipt of international air transport approvals from the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and the US Federal Aviation Administration.
Securing all three approvals is a prerequisite for scalable international defence supply and represents a meaningful operational and regulatory achievement for Li-S Energy.
The company’s recent AUKUS membership enables cell export to the US and UK without the need for individual permits, critical for timely supply to allied defence customers.
Li-S Energy is also progressing UN38.3 cell testing to enable shipment of larger volumes of lithium-sulfur battery cells under standard dangerous goods classifications and remove a key logistical constraint on the pathway to scale.
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