Amprius Technologies has received a US Department of War (DoW) grant worth up to $75m to support domestic production of batteries for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).
The funding will be used to convert an existing US electric-vehicle battery production line into a facility making high-energy-density cells for Group 1, 2 and 3 drones.
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Amprius expects the upgraded line to be completed in early 2028.
The grant was awarded under the DoW’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment programme, which funds US manufacturing capabilities considered important to national defence.
Amprius said it plans to reconfigure a production line operated in the US by a major South Korean manufacturer.
Once operational, the line is expected to have annual capacity of 12 million Amprius battery cells.
The conversion is expected to cost about $100m, including the federal grant and in-kind contributions from Amprius and its South Korean manufacturing partner.
The planned output is intended to meet domestic-sourcing requirements under the National Defense Authorization Act, Amprius said. It added that the project would expand its contract-manufacturing arrangements and increase availability of NDAA-compliant pouch cells for customers.
Pouch cells are battery cells packaged in a flexible casing, rather than a cylindrical or rigid metal format.
Amprius did not disclose the battery specifications, the anticipated distribution of output among drone categories or the customers expected to use the cells.
Amprius chief executive Tom Stepien said: “This DoW grant is intended to establish a primary source of domestic, NDAA-compliant battery production.
“Our technology, combined with the US manufacturing prowess of our South Korean manufacturing partner, positions us to accelerate adoption of standardised, high-performance pouch cells in a fast-growing market.”
The converted line would add capacity to Amprius’ manufacturing network including operations and manufacturing relationships in China, South Korea and the US.
The award is directed at battery supply for uncrewed systems rather than the electric-vehicle market for which the production line was originally configured.
