Amprius Technologies has been awarded a grant of up to $75 million from the U.S. Department of War (DoW) to convert an existing domestic electric vehicle battery production line for the manufacture of high-energy density cells for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
The funding was awarded under the DoW’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program, which supports U.S. manufacturing capabilities considered important to national defense. The award is intended to expand commercially viable domestic production of advanced battery systems for Group 1, 2, and 3 UAS.
To achieve this, Amprius will reconfigure a U.S.-based electric vehicle battery production line operated by a major South Korean manufacturer in a conversion project expected to cost approximately $100 million, including in-kind investments from Amprius and its South Korean partner. Scheduled for completion in early 2028, the retrofitted production line is expected to have the capacity to produce 12 million cells annually, with the cells intended to meet the domestic sourcing requirements of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The project expands Amprius’ existing contract manufacturing relationships and significantly increases its ability to provide NDAA-compliant pouch cells to key customers at scale. The project also adds to Amprius’ existing global manufacturing network in China, South Korea, and the United States.
Tom Stepien, CEO of Amprius, commented, “This DoW grant is intended to establish a primary source of domestic, NDAA-compliant battery production. Our technology, combined with the U.S. manufacturing prowess of our South Korean manufacturing partner, positions us to accelerate adoption of standardized, high-performance pouch cells in a fast-growing market.”
