Li-S Energy has entered into a collaboration agreement with Kea Aerospace to incorporate its advanced lithium-sulfur battery technology into Kea’s high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The partnership was announced at the Avalon International Airshow near Melbourne, where both companies showcased their commitment to enhancing UAV performance and operational efficiency.
The integration of Li-S Energy’s battery technology aims to significantly extend the flight endurance of Kea’s high-altitude UAVs, allowing for multi-month flight durations. This advancement aligns with Li-S Energy’s strategic focus on expanding into the growing sectors of drones, defense, and electric aviation. Kea Aerospace selected Li-S Energy for its cutting-edge lithium-sulfur batteries, which offer substantial weight reductions and increased energy density, essential factors for maximizing UAV flight times and payload capacities.
Kea Aerospace, established in New Zealand in 2018, is currently conducting flight tests of its solar-powered ATMOS aircraft in the stratosphere, operating between 55,000 and 65,000 feet. The ATMOS aircraft functions as both a High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) and a High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drone, providing high-resolution aerial imagery and continuous video data for applications such as maritime surveillance, environmental monitoring, disaster response, and telecommunications support. The potential for Kea’s HAPS aircraft to achieve multi-month flight durations positions the company at the forefront of a rapidly expanding global industry.
The collaboration will focus on integrating Li-S Energy’s ultra-light lithium-sulfur battery cells and battery management system (BMS) technology into Kea’s battery pack design. Ground testing is scheduled for 2025, followed by flight testing. The initial phase will involve the 12.5-meter wingspan ATMOS Mk1 aircraft, with subsequent integration planned for the ATMOS Mk2 model, which is designed for continuous multi-month flights. The ATMOS Mk2 will utilize battery power during nighttime operations and solar energy during the day, with excess solar power used to recharge the batteries, enhancing overall efficiency and operational range.
Dr. Lee Finniear, CEO of Li-S Energy, stated, “Our initial focus on the drone, defence and electric aviation markets is producing incredible opportunities for Li-S Energy. The stratospheric UAV market is a key sector of interest with enormous commercial potential. Partnering with Kea Aerospace positions us to engage at the cutting edge of this sector. Given the paramount importance of weight and reliability to Kea’s ATMOS line of stratospheric UAVs, their decision to collaborate with Li-S highlights how far advanced our battery technology is ahead of many of our competitors. We look forward to the testing program being undertaken in 2025, and to becoming a key technology partner of Kea’s as it delivers high performance, multi-month HAPS aircraft platforms to the global market.”
Dr. Mark Rocket, CEO of Kea Aerospace, added, “This announcement of our collaboration with Li-S at the Avalon International Airshow, one of the most prestigious airshows globally, speaks to how significantly we view our new partnership. Li-S’ next generation lithium-sulfur battery offers more than twice the energy density of conventional lithium-ion batteries, while being greener due to the absence of key materials such as cobalt. This year promises to be a pivotal year for Kea as we develop our ATMOS Mk2 aircraft and the successful integration of Li-S battery technology into our ATMOS UAVs would give us an incredible competitive advantage in an industry where the commercial applications are vast.”
Source: PR Newswire
