British energy technology company Solus Power has secured a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to develop its portable lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery system for military use.
Solus Power has been awarded funding by the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) to further develop its Kratos Li-ion battery pack. Built to military-grade standards, Kratos is designed as an alternative to traditional diesel generators for deployment in off-grid applications across maritime, land, and air domains.
Kratos provides DC-to-DC charging, with units able to be linked together to meet higher energy demands — such as powering field command centres, medical units, or rapid disaster response operations. Nicknamed the ‘Jerry can of electricity’, the Kratos Li-ion system can be carried by hand, mounted on vehicles, or deployed by drone. It also supports soldier-level technology, including wearable devices, communications equipment, and smart weaponry.
The project will be delivered in partnership with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), with the aim of advancing development and entering the technology into field testing. Darren Browning, Dstl technical partner, said Dstl’s critical technical advice had helped shape the power requirements for the solution and its ability to support a range of electronic systems. Dstl will oversee testing and ensure the technology meets the operational requirements of the Royal Navy’s Future Commando Force, the MoD unit funding the initiative.
Over the past nine years, DASA has built partnerships across government, academia, and industry to support the development of novel technologies that enhance self-sufficiency and operational endurance for deployed forces.
The global transition from fossil fuels to electrified power generation, storage, and distribution is becoming a critical factor for modern armed forces. This shift makes scalable, ruggedised, and self-sufficient power solutions essential for off-grid and battlefield environments.
Image: Solus Power military grade battery for UK MOD Credit: Solus Power
