HPQ Partner Novacium Secures French Army Contract for Tactical Radio Batteries
HPQ Silicium Inc.'s strategic partner, Novacium SAS, has been awarded a contract by the French Army Technical Section (STAT) to supply high-capacity prototype batteries for tactical radios. The contract was finalized at the end of June 2026.
Novacium SAS, a French deep-tech company specializing in materials for energy applications and a strategic partner of HPQ Silicium Inc., has secured a contract from the French Army Technical Section (STAT) for the development and supply of high-capacity prototype batteries intended for tactical radios. The contract was finalized at the end of June 2026, with the announcement delayed due to procedural reasons.
The STAT initially contacted Novacium in August 2024 after reviewing published results from cells developed using the company's silicon-based anode material. The organization sought to evaluate the potential integration of Novacium's cells into the batteries used in its tactical radios. Following six months of internal development, Novacium's teams produced two battery prototypes, which were delivered to the STAT in April 2025. Initial evaluations demonstrated a 23% increase in energy capacity compared to reference batteries, while maintaining comparable form factors and interfaces.
Building on these initial results, Novacium met with representatives from France's Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), Defence Innovation Agency (AID), and STAT in September 2025. The objective was to propose a work program focused on developing very high-capacity battery prototypes. The aim was to significantly increase, or potentially double, the energy capacity of tactical radio batteries without requiring modifications to existing connectors, chargers, or interfaces.
The selection was based on the performance of Novacium's GEN 3 and GEN 4 cylindrical cells, designed for high-capacity applications. This energy density capability enabled the proposal of a solution capable of meeting STAT's objective to extend the operating time of tactical radios without disrupting existing charging infrastructure or logistics chains. The contract includes the delivery of prototypes in successive batches, structured around operational feedback (RETEX). The first batch will undergo an evaluation campaign under operational conditions, after which lessons learned will guide design adjustments for a second, more series-production-oriented, batch.