Li-S Energy Opens Defence Market Access with EPE Collaboration Agreement

Li-S Energy (ASX: LIS) has signed a non-exclusive collaboration agreement with EPE Trusted to Protect to evaluate and qualify its ultra-lightweight lithium-sulfur battery cells for defence, security, and unmanned systems.

The framework gives Li-S Energy structured access to EPE’s defence and security customers, along with a network of more than 60 international original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Australian defence primes across the Indo-Pacific, North America, Europe, and the UK.

Target applications include drones, ground robotics, counter-drone systems, and soldier electronics, where Li-S Energy says its batteries can almost double range and operating time while increasing payload capacity.

Any commercial battery supply will depend on successful evaluation and qualification programs and procurement decisions by EPE customers and partners.

Li-S Energy has recently delivered cells to the US Army for independent evaluation and testing, adding another defence-focused testing pathway for its technology.

Defence Network Access

EPE is a wholly Australian-owned defence and national security group with more than 25 years of experience supplying customers operating in hazardous environments.

The Brisbane-headquartered business has offices in Wellington and Kentucky, regional operations supporting Europe and the UK, and relationships with defence forces, law enforcement, and government agencies across several international markets.

“At EPE our purpose is to keep Australians and our allies safe in the most demanding environments—that increasingly depends on getting more capability into smaller, lighter, longer-endurance platforms, and battery technology is at the heart of that challenge,” founder and chief executive officer Warwick Penrose explained.

EPE is a prime contractor to the Australian Department of Defence and the New Zealand Defence Force, while its partner ecosystem includes more than 60 international OEMs alongside major defence contractors.

It was recently awarded $3.05 million by the Queensland Sovereign Industry Development Fund to upgrade and expand a manufacturing facility for Australian-designed drone systems.

Ultra-Lightweight Battery Cells

Li-S Energy develops ultra-lightweight lithium-sulfur cells that it says offer more than twice the energy density of conventional lithium-ion batteries, creating potential advantages in weight-sensitive aerospace and defence applications.

The batteries are being positioned for unmanned systems across air, sea, and land, where lower battery weight can translate into longer endurance or greater payload capacity.

Li-S also points to sovereign Australian manufacturing and an allied materials supply chain as potential advantages for defence and security customers seeking secure sources of advanced battery technology.

“As we expand our presence in the allied defence and security markets, EPE is an ideal Australian partner,” managing director Dr Lee Finniear said.

“In one agreement, we gain a pathway to EPE’s defence and security customers […], and to the 60+ international OEMs and Australian primes building the platforms where LIS cells can deliver real capability uplift.”