Lyten, the supermaterial applications company and developer of lithium-sulfur batteries, announced a new national security-focused initiative to support the growing demand for high-endurance, wide-operational-radius electrified drones for defense applications.
The initiative is built on a next-generation drone energy storage system powered by Lyten’s ultra-lightweight lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, enabling a significant leap forward in the electrification of unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
The company is dedicating production capacity in its California manufacturing facilities to meet the unique needs of the US defense, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and satellite sectors.
Lyten’s American-sourced and manufactured lithium-sulfur batteries are uniquely positioned to help the Department of Defense meet two urgent modernization imperatives:
- Reducing dependence on foreign and adversarial supply chains for critical minerals, components, and batteries
- Enabling the deployment of lighter, longer range, and more capable UAV platforms
In a newly released demonstration flight video, Lyten showed its lithium-sulfur battery powering a US-built, 3D-printed UAV. The drone was manufactured by Titan Dynamics, utilizing a battery pack designed by Upgrade Energy, both of which are based in Los Angeles.
The successful flight of Titan’s 8.5-foot wingspan drone in Palos Verdes, California, demonstrated flight time capability of over three hours while executing a wide range of maneuvers, at speeds of up to 86 mph. Lyten’s next upcoming drone battery release is targeting up to eight hours of flight time on the Titan Dynamics platform.
Lyten’s lithium-sulfur batteries are free from nickel, manganese, cobalt, and graphite — minerals dominated by Chinese supply chains — enabling a secure, National Defense Appropriations Act (NDAA)-compliant energy solution for defense platforms. Lithium-sulfur batteries, with their higher energy density, are designed to support longer flights, heavier payloads, and extended operational range.
Lyten is currently taking orders for its latest lithium-sulfur battery for drones. The company previously announced a contract with the Defense Innovation Unit to demonstrate its lithium-sulfur batteries on the International Space Station, slated for launch later this year. Lyten’s ultra-lightweight solution is now achieving over 3,000 cycles for satellite applications.
Watch the Lyten lithium-sulfur powered drone video here.
Filed Under: Electrification, Technology News