# U.S. Department of War Awards Battery Manufacturing Grant

The U.S. Department of War has awarded Amprius Technologies a **$75 million** grant to convert a domestic electric vehicle battery production line in Fremont, California, into a high-energy density lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility specifically for drone applications. This initiative aims to produce 12 million NDAA-compliant battery cells annually by early 2028, enhancing domestic supply chain resilience and reducing dependence on foreign battery sources critical to defense operations.

- This grant represents a strategic investment in domestic manufacturing capacity for defense-grade drone batteries, signaling increased procurement focus on supply chain security and compliance with NDAA requirements.
- Procurement professionals should note the emphasis on high-volume, NDAA-compliant production, which may influence future contract requirements and vendor evaluations in defense battery supply.
- Contractors and suppliers in battery technology and manufacturing can explore partnership or subcontracting opportunities with Amprius Technologies as the project scales.
- The project timeline targeting early 2028 production start provides a clear horizon for planning related procurement activities and technology integration efforts.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Energy & Utilities
**Topics:** Contracting Vehicles, Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** September 28, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of War

### Vendors
- Amprius Technologies (awardee)
- South Korean manufacturer (partner)

### Key Quotes
> This DoW grant is intended to establish a primary source of domestic, NDAA-compliant battery production
> — Tom Stepien, Chief Executive Officer

### Sources
- [Amprius wins $75M defense grant to build US drone batteries | Dealroom.co](https://app.dealroom.co/news/note/amprius-wins-75m-defense-grant-to-build-us-drone-batteries) - Dealroom.co