French Army Awards Novacium Contract for High-Capacity Tactical Radio Batteries
Event summary
- Novacium SAS, a partner of HPQ Silicon Inc., secured a contract from the French Army Technical Section (STAT) in June 2026 to develop and supply high-capacity prototype batteries for tactical radios.
- The contract follows 18 months of technical collaboration, with initial prototypes demonstrating a 23% increase in energy capacity compared to reference batteries.
- The batteries are based on Novacium’s GEN 3 and GEN 4 silicon-based anode materials, designed to double the operating time of tactical radios without modifying existing infrastructure.
- The contract involves successive batches of prototypes, with operational field feedback guiding design adjustments before series production.
The big picture
This contract underscores the growing demand for high-capacity, lightweight batteries in defense applications, particularly for tactical communications. Novacium’s success could position it as a key supplier in the defense sector, while HPQ Silicon stands to benefit from the strategic value of its stake in Novacium. The deal also highlights the potential for silicon-based anode materials to disrupt traditional battery technologies in high-performance environments.
What we're watching
- Defense Market Expansion
- Whether Novacium can leverage this contract as a technical reference to secure similar deals with other NATO member countries.
- Technical Performance
- The pace at which Novacium’s batteries will meet or exceed STAT’s operational requirements during field evaluations.
- Strategic Value
- How HPQ Silicon’s 36.8% stake in Novacium will be impacted by the success of this defense sector program.