Li-S Energy has signed a Collaboration Agreement with EPE which has opened a route for Li-S Energy’s ultra-lightweight lithium-sulfur cells into defence and security markets across the Indo-Pacific, North America, Europe and the UK.

“As we expand our presence in the allied defence and security markets, EPE is an ideal Australian partner” Li-S Energy, Managing Director, Lee Finniear, said.

“In one agreement, we gain a pathway to EPE’s defence and security customers across Australia, the Indo-Pacific, North America, Europe and the UK, and to the 60+ international OEMs and Australian primes building the platforms where LIS cells can deliver real capability uplift.”

This has followed Li-S Engery’s recent delivery of LIS cells to US Army DEVCOM.

According to the company, its battery cells approach twice the energy density of conventional lithium-ion cells, which for unmanned systems means almost twice the range and operating time, and increased payload.

LIS cells are designed and manufactured in Australia at an advanced pouch cell production facility.

EPE is a prime contractor to the Australian Department of Defence and the New Zealand Defence Force. Its partner network spans more than 60 international defence and security OEMs, and it supports Australia’s major primes: Babcock, BAE Systems, Thales and Leidos.

“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,” EPE Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Warwick Penrose, said.

Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly evaluate, demonstrate and qualify Li-S Energy’s cells in key platforms, opening a route for potential battery supply into EPE partner platforms and end-customer systems.

Target platforms include drones, ground robotics, EOD robots, counter-drone systems and soldier electronics.

EPE has been listed in Australian Defence Magazine’s Top 20 Australia/NZ-owned SME Defence Suppliers and was recently awarded $3.05 million from Queensland’s Sovereign Industry Development Fund to expand a manufacturing facility for Australian-designed battery powered drone systems.

Commercial supply outcomes will depend on evaluation and qualification results and the procurement decisions of EPE’s customers and partners.