Novacium Secures First Commercial Order for Drone Battery Packs

Novacium SAS, a French deep-tech company specializing in silicon-based anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, has secured its first commercial order for more than 100 AA NOVA battery packs. The order, placed by Alta Ares, a European counter-drone company, is intended to power the X-Lock, Alta Ares’ interceptor drone. This marks a significant milestone for Novacium, as the AA NOVA 6S3P 15,000 mAh battery packs incorporate the company’s proprietary silicon-based anode technology, offering a lighter and more efficient solution compared to Alta Ares’ previous reference battery.

The collaboration between Novacium and Alta Ares began nearly six months ago, focusing on the design of a battery pack that meets the stringent requirements of an interceptor drone. The objective was to develop a pack that not only provides the necessary power but also reduces the overall weight of the drone, thereby enhancing its agility and endurance. A successful test campaign conducted in July 2026 on ten AA NOVA pack prototypes validated the performance and reliability of the new battery, leading to the commercial order.

According to Jed Kraiem, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Novacium, "Designing the battery for the interceptor drone of a company selected under a DGA program and which won a NATO innovation challenge is an important milestone for the entire team. This order is the culmination of nearly six months of work carried out in close collaboration with the Alta Ares teams. It demonstrates that our silicon-based anode technology provides a concrete and measurable advantage, in this case significant weight reduction at performance levels that are at least equivalent, in one of the most demanding defence applications."

Alta Ares, a French defence technology company specializing in counter-drone systems and onboard artificial intelligence, has been at the forefront of innovation. The company’s X-Lock is a short- to medium-range quadcopter interceptor guided by its onboard artificial intelligence software, Pixel Lock. Alta Ares was selected alongside MBDA as part of the ELISA innovation partnership launched by France’s Directorate General of Armaments (DGA). The company also won a NATO innovation challenge in 2025 focused on the early detection and identification of aerial threats. Its technologies have been tested and proven in real combat conditions in Ukraine.

Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silicon Inc., which holds a strategic 36.8% equity interest in Novacium, expressed gratitude to the Alta Ares teams for their cooperation and professionalism. "Equipping Alta Ares' interceptor drone with our AA NOVA battery packs is a significant step in positioning Novacium as a credible French player in the development of advanced energy solutions for drone systems. This first order helps address the strategic challenge of technological sovereignty and security of supply for European defence systems."

The transition from a test campaign to a commercial order for more than 100 units, with the prospect of an ongoing supply agreement, provides a concrete reference that could support the development of new commercial opportunities in the drone and defence sectors. Novacium and Alta Ares are continuing their collaboration to further improve battery performance, with future versions potentially incorporating 6,000 mAh GEN4 “high-current” cells currently under development.

This order marks a significant step for Novacium in its journey to develop advanced energy solutions for demanding applications, particularly in the defence and aerospace sectors. The company is also exploring opportunities through discussions with the DGA and NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence, aiming to evaluate its technologies for defence applications related to energy storage and energy autonomy.