Norwegian cell manufacturer Morrow Batteries has entered the defence sector for the first time, signing a contract to supply battery cells to an unnamed German defence company following a year-long evaluation programme.
The agreement marks a milestone for the Arendal-based company, whose lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells were benchmarked against established international suppliers. According to Morrow, the results confirmed that its Norwegian-produced batteries meet the performance and reliability standards required for security-critical applications.
“Our cells delivered consistently high performance throughout extensive evaluation, demonstrating the stability this sector demands,” said chief executive Jon Fold von Bülow.
Initial deliveries will support the customer’s product development and qualification programme, with potential for further scale-up depending on validation outcomes.
Morrow testing under Arctic conditions
The company said its technology has already been tested in operational environments through its collaboration with Nordic Batteries. Systems incorporating Morrow’s cells have been deployed during NATO exercises in northern Norway, including at the Heimdal test arena, where military and industrial partners assess equipment under Arctic conditions.
“Batteries are now mission-critical in defence systems—integral to operational capability, not just components,” said Nordic Batteries chief executive Jarle Gjøsæther. “We require consistent, verifiable performance, and NATO exercises in the High North have proven that Morrow can deliver. Their cells provided the operational reliability, cold-weather performance, and field robustness essential for real-world deployment.”
Morrow said the contract reflects a broader shift among European defence and industrial players towards regional sourcing of critical technologies, driven by supply chain security concerns.
“Batteries have become a strategic component in both defence and critical infrastructure,” von Bülow said. “This agreement reflects the growing need for European and Nordic production of battery cells that can deliver documented performance and security of supply.”
Founded in 2020, Morrow is developing cobalt-free LNMO chemistries alongside its LFP portfolio, targeting applications in defence, energy storage and off-road mobility.
