California-based battery company Lyten has announced a new national security initiative to help power next-generation defense drones using its lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery technology.
The goal: to support US military and aerospace needs with batteries that are lightweight, high-performance, and sourced entirely from within the United States.Lytens new drone battery system is being manufactured at its California facility and is designed to help the Department of Defense address two key challenges reducing reliance on foreign-controlled battery materials and improving drone performance with longer range and flight time.Most existing drone and satellite batteries rely on minerals like nickel, manganese, cobalt, and graphite, many of which are dominated by Chinese supply chains.
Lytens lithium-sulfur batteries avoid those materials altogether, providing what the company says is a secure and NDAA-compliant alternative for military and aerospace use.Our defense systems rely heavily on drones and autonomous tech, but the power sources come from geopolitical rivals, says Dan Cook, Lytens CEO.
We built our lithium-sulfur platform to change that.Advertisement - scroll for more contentTo demonstrate the technology, Lyten has shared a video of a successful test flight of a US-built, 3D-printed drone powered by their battery.
Built by Titan Dynamics and using a pack designed by Upgrade Energy, the 8.5-foot wingspan drone flew over Palos Verdes, California, for over three hours, reaching speeds of 86 mph.
The next battery version could stretch flight times up to eight hours.Beyond drones, Lyten sees its lightweight batteries improving performance for satellites, electric vehicles, and personal mobility devices.Lytens Li-S batteries are already being tested for satellite missions and are scheduled to be demonstrated on the International Space Station later this year through a Defense Innovation Unit contract.By cutting ties with overseas mineral sources and pushing performance limits, Lyten aims to strengthen the US supply chain while expanding the possibilities for drone-powered defense.More:DJI adds supercharged obstacle detection to Matrice 4D dronesFTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.