SubSea Craft invests in Lorillion’s battery technology

SubSea Craft has completed a strategic investment for a 40% equity interest in Lorillion to strengthen the UK’s sovereign capability to design, industrialise and manufacture specialist battery systems for the aerospace, defence and marines sectors.

Building on an existing technical relationship between the two companies, the investment combines Lorillion’s battery engineering expertise with SubSea Craft’s advanced maritime platforms. The agreement aims to significantly advance UK technology, manufacturing capability and supply-chain resilience.

Lorillion provides battery development services across the aerospace, defence, marine and automotive sectors, specialising in the rapid development of bespoke battery systems for demanding and highly regulated applications.

How the investment strategy will help reduce reliance on overseas suppliers

The investment will enable the expansion of its engineering team to over 70 people, accelerate the development of its proprietary battery-management technology and support a new production facility in the Midlands.

The partnership is particularly important to the development of VICTA, SubSea Craft’s advanced dual domain maritime platform, intended to provide global special operations forces with a new generation of covert maritime insertion. Through the investment, SubSea Craft will gain closer control over a critical element of the platform’s performance and supply chain while retaining the ability to adapt the system as technology and customer requirements evolve.

By strengthening battery-system design, engineering and manufacturing capability within a controlled national supply chain, the partnership will help reduce dependence on overseas suppliers and services while advancing the further development of strategically important British technology.

Building a British battery technology capability

Camilla Martin, Chief Executive Officer of SubSea Craft, said: “Modern defence capability is only as resilient as the industrial base behind it. Our investment in Lorillion is about more than securing batteries. It is about securing the engineering knowledge, manufacturing capability and freedom of action required to develop and sustain strategically important British technology.”

“For VICTA, the battery is not a commodity component. It is a mission-critical system. Having a UK design and manufacturing partner working directly alongside our engineering teams will allow us to accelerate development, maintain control of performance and strengthen the resilience of our supply chain.”

Richie Frost, CEO of Lorillion, said: “Our strategic partnership with SubSea Craft will accelerate the development of key battery technologies and a dedicated battery-pack manufacturing capability, enabling a vital end-to-end sovereign capability in the UK.”

“This investment allows us to expand our engineering team, accelerate our proprietary technology and provide customers with a complete route from initial battery concept through design, development and testing, to certified production. It represents a major step forward for Lorillion and for the UK’s ability to develop advanced battery systems for defence, marine and other demanding applications.”