New battery platform supports national security with lightweight, long-endurance energy systems for defense UAVs
Lyten Prioritizes U.S. Defense Needs with Lightweight Battery Innovation
Lyten, a California-based battery manufacturer and supermaterial developer, has announced a new initiative to support U.S. national security through the production of next-generation lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries for drones. The company is allocating manufacturing capacity at its San Jose facilities to serve the defense, UAV, and satellite sectors.
The initiative is designed to help meet two key goals of the U.S. Department of Defense: reducing reliance on foreign supply chains and enabling the deployment of higher-performing unmanned systems. Lyten’s batteries are both sourced and produced in the United States.
“Defense initiatives increasingly rely on unmanned, autonomous systems, yet nearly all these systems are powered by raw materials and batteries sourced from geopolitical rivals,” said Dan Cook, Lyten Co-Founder and CEO. “We built Lyten’s lithium-sulfur battery platform to solve exactly this problem – to provide lightweight, high performance battery power that is locally sourced and locally manufactured in the United States.”
Demonstrated Performance in Real-World UAV Testing
Lyten recently demonstrated its battery performance in a successful flight of an American-built drone. The aircraft, developed by Titan Dynamics with battery pack integration by Upgrade Energy, completed a flight in Palos Verdes, California. The 3D-printed UAV featured an 8.5-foot wingspan and flew at speeds up to 86 mph for over three hours.
The company’s next lithium-sulfur battery release, expected in July 2025, is targeting up to 8 hours of flight time using the same platform.
Lyten’s Li-S batteries are free of nickel, manganese, cobalt, and graphite—materials often sourced from Chinese supply chains. This makes the product compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), while offering greater endurance, payload capacity, and operational range.
Battery Technology Designed for Strategic Applications
The company’s lithium-sulfur battery technology offers potential benefits beyond drones. “Lightweight propulsion is of critical importance to so many industries,” said Celina Mikolajczak, Lyten’s Chief Battery Technology Officer. “Satellites, drones, EVs, and micromobility can all dramatically improve in performance with lighter weight batteries. We have designed the lithium-sulfur battery platform to provide this lightweight performance, while avoiding materials subject to growing geopolitical and supply chain constraints.”
Lyten is currently accepting orders for its latest UAV battery, and its lithium-sulfur platform has already attracted the attention of the Defense Innovation Unit. A demonstration of the technology aboard the International Space Station is scheduled for launch later in 2025. Lyten’s battery systems have achieved over 3,000 charge cycles for satellite applications.
About Lyten
Founded in 2015, Lyten has developed a proprietary materials platform known as Lyten 3D Graphene, used to create decarbonizing products including its Li-S batteries. With over $425 million in equity investment and more than 520 patents granted or pending, the company continues to grow its manufacturing presence in California. Lyten’s recent acquisition of Northvolt’s San Leandro plant will help scale production to meet increased demand.
In addition to its work in UAVs, Lyten has announced plans to integrate its technology into AEVEX Aerospace platforms and Stellantis’ Chrysler Halcyon EV. The company has also been recognized by Fast Company and Time for its innovation in green energy technology.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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