SES AI is relaunching its Anode-Free Li-Metal battery technology for the rapidly expanding drone market, with NDAA compliant cells set to become available from Q4 2026.
SES AI is bringing its Anode-Free Li-Metal technology back to the market, adapting a platform originally developed around a decade ago for the demanding requirements of electric vehicles. The company has now modified the technology for drone applications, where high energy density, low weight and power performance can provide significant advantages for UAV manufacturers and operators.
The Anode-Free Li-Metal cells are expected to be available from Q4 2026 in a range of pouch formats from 4Ah to 30Ah. Cells will be manufactured at SES AI’s Chungju facility in South Korea, providing an NDAA compliant production route for customers requiring secure and traceable battery supply chains.
SES AI originally developed its technology with applications such as electric vehicles in mind. However, the company says the technology was ultimately considered too powerful for the EV applications it was targeting at the time. Following a period on the shelf during COVID-19, SES AI has now returned to the technology with a modified version optimized for the requirements of drones.
The move builds on SES AI’s existing position in high energy density battery technology for unmanned systems. The company’s current drone portfolio includes Li-ion and Li-Metal cells designed for high power density, high energy density, rapid discharge and long endurance applications. Its H6AF anode-free cell, for example, provides 6.3 Ah capacity and 24.3Wh of energy, with a gravimetric energy density of 525 Wh/kg.
SES AI has also converted its Chungju manufacturing line from EV pouch cells to drone format cells, with the facility having been NDAA compliant since 2021. The company has begun supplying cells from the site to drone customers for qualification and commercial applications, while targeting production at scale.
According to SES AI, reintroduction of this technology gives drone manufacturers another option for developing lightweight, high performance energy systems, while the availability of multiple pouch formats is intended to support different aircraft sizes and mission requirements.
SES AI says further details on the new technology and its drone battery portfolio are available in its latest drone brochure.
