Amprius Technologies, Inc. announced on September 28, 2026, that it has been awarded a grant of up to $75 million from the U.S. Department of War to retrofit an existing domestic electric vehicle battery production line. The converted line will manufacture high-energy-density cells for unmanned aerial systems.
The grant was awarded through the department’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program, which supports domestic manufacturing capabilities considered critical to national defense. The project is intended to establish high-volume U.S. production of advanced battery systems for Group 1, 2, and 3 drones.
Amprius plans to reconfigure a U.S.-based EV battery line operated by an unnamed major South Korean battery manufacturer. The conversion is scheduled for completion in early 2028, when the line is expected to have annual production capacity of 12 million Amprius cells.
The cells are intended to comply with domestic sourcing requirements under the National Defense Authorization Act. The overall conversion project is expected to cost approximately $100 million, including in-kind investments from Amprius and its South Korean manufacturing partner.
According to Amprius, the modified line will expand its existing contract manufacturing relationships and increase its capacity to supply NDAA-compliant pouch cells at scale. It will also add U.S. capacity to the company’s manufacturing network, which includes operations in China and South Korea.
The grant remains subject to funding and execution conditions. Amprius said a majority of the total award is not yet funded and depends on future appropriations. Payments also require the company to achieve specified milestones and receive acceptance from the U.S. government. The company noted that the project’s execution will partly depend on its manufacturing partner meeting related performance and timeline requirements.
Source: Amprius Technologies, Inc.
