The global military batteries market was valued at USD 4.42 billion in 2025. It is estimated at USD 4.91 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 12.28 billion by 2036, growing at a CAGR of 9.6% over the 2026-2036 forecast period. This report assesses the market in depth, covering battery demand from drones, soldiers, vehicles, munitions, and naval platforms, battery chemistries and cell technologies, critical materials and cell manufacturing capacity, supply chain risk, procurement restrictions and export controls, military standards and qualification, pricing, investment, and competition.
The study covers cells, battery packs and modules, battery management systems, and chargers and power management equipment designed for defense use. Chemistries in scope include rechargeable lithium-ion, primary lithium, lead-acid, nickel-based, thermal and reserve batteries for munitions and missiles, and newer chemistries still in development. Applications range from soldier-carried radios, night vision devices, and computers; vehicle starting, silent watch, and hybrid-electric drives; uncrewed aerial, ground, and undersea systems; missiles, munitions, and guidance units; aircraft avionics and emergency power; submarines and surface ships; military satellites; and energy storage at bases and in the field. The ecosystem runs from raw material and cell suppliers through defense pack makers, battery management system developers, and platform integrators to armed forces and defense logistics agencies.
The war in Ukraine shows how heavily modern military operations depend on stored electrical energy and how fast drones consume batteries, with Ukraine's Ministry of Defence reporting that its interceptor drones shot down over 33,000 hostile drones in March 2026 alone. Supply security has also become a policy issue: under Section 154 of the FY2024 U.S. defense authorization law (NDAA), the Department of Defense may not spend its funds from 1 October 2027 on batteries from CATL, BYD, EVE Energy, Gotion High-tech, Envision Energy, Hithium Energy Storage Technology, or any successor company. China, for its part, placed high-performance lithium-ion batteries, cathode materials, artificial graphite anodes, and production equipment under export control in October 2025, then suspended the measure only until 10 November 2026.
Reliance on China for lithium-ion cells and key materials such as graphite is the main restraint, as U.S. procurement bans force suppliers to qualify alternative cells and materials, which can raise costs and limit availability in the near term. Military batteries must also pass demanding tests for extreme temperatures, shock and vibration, safety, transport, and shelf life, and the time and expense of qualifying new cells and suppliers slows the adoption of new technology, especially as small defense volumes make these costs harder to recover. Key challenges include thermal runaway and fire risk aboard ships, submarines, aircraft, and vehicles, the scale of investment needed to build non-Chinese supply chains when defense demand is small next to commercial markets, and the logistics of storing, moving, charging, and disposing of many battery types.
Opportunities lie in high-energy-density cells, such as solid-state, lithium-metal, lithium-sulfur, and silicon-anode lithium-ion designs, which extend drone range and lighten soldier loads and can command premium prices in defense. Lithium-ion systems for conventional submarines and uncrewed undersea vehicles form a high-value niche as submarine purchases grow across NATO and Asia-Pacific, and microgrids and battery storage at installations and forward bases improve resilience and cut fuel use. Key trends include rules that exclude adversary-sourced batteries and require proof of cell origin, the move of conformal wearable batteries into volume production, and a steady shift from single-use primary batteries to rechargeable ones for training and many operational uses.
By chemistry, the report covers lithium-ion (NMC/NCA, LFP, and LTO), lithium primary (Li-SO2, Li-MnO2, Li-SOCl2, and Li-CFx), lead-acid, nickel-based, thermal, and emerging chemistries (solid-state, silicon-anode, lithium-sulfur, and sodium-ion). Lithium-ion is expected to hold the largest share in 2026, as its high energy density and rechargeability make it the standard choice for soldier-portable equipment, uncrewed systems, vehicles, and naval platforms. Emerging chemistries are expected to grow at the highest CAGR, driven by demand for more energy per kilogram in drones and soldier kits and by the search for alternatives to supply chains dominated by China. Primary lithium remains important where long storage life or extreme environmental performance is required.
By type, the market is divided into rechargeable, non-rechargeable, and reserve & thermal batteries. Rechargeable batteries are expected to hold the largest share in 2026 and to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, as armed forces replace single-use batteries to reduce cost, waste, and logistics, and as uncrewed systems and electrified platforms rely on rechargeable packs. Reserve & thermal batteries benefit from higher munitions and missile production, since they provide guidance and fuzing power after years in storage, while non-rechargeable batteries keep a role in specialized long-life uses.
The application analysis spans soldier-portable & dismounted systems (tactical radios, night vision & optronics, and conformal wearable power), ground vehicles (starting, lighting & ignition, silent watch, and hybrid-electric propulsion), uncrewed systems (aerial, ground, and undersea), munitions & missiles, aircraft, naval platforms (submarines and surface ships), space systems, and base & field power. Soldier-portable & dismounted systems are expected to account for the largest share in 2026, given the very large number of radios, night vision devices, and other electronics used by ground forces. Uncrewed systems are expected to grow at the highest CAGR, driven by mass drone procurement and wider use of uncrewed ground and undersea vehicles in NATO and Asia-Pacific forces.
By component, the market is divided into cells, battery packs & modules, battery management systems, and chargers & power management. Battery packs & modules are expected to hold the largest share in 2026, as defense suppliers usually integrate cells into ruggedized packs built to military specifications. Battery management systems are expected to grow at the highest CAGR, driven by stricter safety requirements and the complexity of large lithium-ion installations on vehicles, ships, and submarines, where cell monitoring and fire protection are critical.
By end user, the report covers the army, navy, air force, marine corps, special operations forces, and space force. The army is expected to account for the largest share in 2026, reflecting its demand for soldier power, ground vehicle batteries, and uncrewed systems. The navy is expected to grow at the highest CAGR, owing to lithium-ion adoption in conventional submarines and uncrewed undersea vehicles and the electrification of surface ships, all of which require large, safety-qualified battery systems.
North America is expected to hold the largest share of the market in 2026, supported by the size of U.S. defense purchasing, programs for conformal batteries and soldier power, investment in drones and other uncrewed systems, and a base of established defense battery suppliers. The U.S. ban on batteries from named Chinese producers, which takes effect in October 2027, together with later restrictions on components from foreign entities of concern, is expected to speed up investment in domestic and allied cell and pack capacity.
Europe is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by higher defense budgets, large-scale drone production in Ukraine and other European countries, the rebuilding of munitions stockpiles, and conventional submarine programs, while governments also seek to reduce reliance on Chinese battery supply. The report covers the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, and the Nordic countries. Asia-Pacific holds a significant share, supported by South Korean and Japanese battery makers, lithium-ion submarine programs, and rising military spending in Australia, India, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, while Israel and the Gulf states lead demand in the Middle East & Africa.
The market is fragmented, with established defense battery specialists competing with diversified industrial battery makers, commercial cell producers from allied countries, and startups developing high-energy-density cells. Competition centers on military qualification, energy density, safety, documented supply chain origin, output capacity, and price. Leading companies are approving cell sources outside China, integrating vertically, developing conformal wearable and drone batteries, and adding capacity in the U.S., Europe, and allied countries, supported by acquisitions, partnerships between pack makers and allied cell producers, and government-backed investment. Ultralife, for example, reported a record backlog at the end of the second quarter of 2026, including conformal wearable battery orders and manpack radio batteries for a NATO partner.
Key companies profiled in the report include EnerSys (U.S.), Saft Groupe SAS (France), EaglePicher Technologies, LLC (U.S.), Ultralife Corporation (U.S.), Bren-Tronics, Inc. (U.S.), GS Yuasa Corporation (Japan), Epsilor-Electric Fuel Ltd. (Israel), Denchi Power Ltd (U.K.), Lincad Ltd (U.K.), Amprius Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), Exide Technologies (France), HBL Engineering Limited (India), and Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. (South Korea).
The study covers cells, battery packs and modules, battery management systems, and chargers and power management equipment designed for defense use. Chemistries in scope include rechargeable lithium-ion, primary lithium, lead-acid, nickel-based, thermal and reserve batteries for munitions and missiles, and newer chemistries still in development. Applications range from soldier-carried radios, night vision devices, and computers; vehicle starting, silent watch, and hybrid-electric drives; uncrewed aerial, ground, and undersea systems; missiles, munitions, and guidance units; aircraft avionics and emergency power; submarines and surface ships; military satellites; and energy storage at bases and in the field. The ecosystem runs from raw material and cell suppliers through defense pack makers, battery management system developers, and platform integrators to armed forces and defense logistics agencies.
The war in Ukraine shows how heavily modern military operations depend on stored electrical energy and how fast drones consume batteries, with Ukraine's Ministry of Defence reporting that its interceptor drones shot down over 33,000 hostile drones in March 2026 alone. Supply security has also become a policy issue: under Section 154 of the FY2024 U.S. defense authorization law (NDAA), the Department of Defense may not spend its funds from 1 October 2027 on batteries from CATL, BYD, EVE Energy, Gotion High-tech, Envision Energy, Hithium Energy Storage Technology, or any successor company. China, for its part, placed high-performance lithium-ion batteries, cathode materials, artificial graphite anodes, and production equipment under export control in October 2025, then suspended the measure only until 10 November 2026.
Market Dynamics
Growth is driven by the mass use of uncrewed aerial, ground, and undersea systems, from small drones and interceptors to loitering munitions and undersea vehicles, which rely on high-energy-density batteries and are consumed in very large numbers in high-intensity conflict. The digitized dismounted soldier carries radios, night vision and thermal devices, displays, computers, and sensors that all need continuous power, so armies are adopting conformal wearable batteries, standard rechargeable packs, and central power managers to cut weight. Vehicle and platform electrification adds demand through silent watch, hybrid-electric drive, and the rising electrical load of sensors, electronic warfare, and directed energy systems, while lithium-ion is extending the submerged endurance of conventional submarines. Higher output of missiles, air defense interceptors, guided munitions, and artillery shells is also lifting demand for thermal and reserve batteries, which deliver power reliably after long storage.Reliance on China for lithium-ion cells and key materials such as graphite is the main restraint, as U.S. procurement bans force suppliers to qualify alternative cells and materials, which can raise costs and limit availability in the near term. Military batteries must also pass demanding tests for extreme temperatures, shock and vibration, safety, transport, and shelf life, and the time and expense of qualifying new cells and suppliers slows the adoption of new technology, especially as small defense volumes make these costs harder to recover. Key challenges include thermal runaway and fire risk aboard ships, submarines, aircraft, and vehicles, the scale of investment needed to build non-Chinese supply chains when defense demand is small next to commercial markets, and the logistics of storing, moving, charging, and disposing of many battery types.
Opportunities lie in high-energy-density cells, such as solid-state, lithium-metal, lithium-sulfur, and silicon-anode lithium-ion designs, which extend drone range and lighten soldier loads and can command premium prices in defense. Lithium-ion systems for conventional submarines and uncrewed undersea vehicles form a high-value niche as submarine purchases grow across NATO and Asia-Pacific, and microgrids and battery storage at installations and forward bases improve resilience and cut fuel use. Key trends include rules that exclude adversary-sourced batteries and require proof of cell origin, the move of conformal wearable batteries into volume production, and a steady shift from single-use primary batteries to rechargeable ones for training and many operational uses.
Segment Analysis
The report analyzes the market by chemistry, type, application, component, end user, and geography, helping stakeholders identify which battery technologies and defense uses will create the most demand.By chemistry, the report covers lithium-ion (NMC/NCA, LFP, and LTO), lithium primary (Li-SO2, Li-MnO2, Li-SOCl2, and Li-CFx), lead-acid, nickel-based, thermal, and emerging chemistries (solid-state, silicon-anode, lithium-sulfur, and sodium-ion). Lithium-ion is expected to hold the largest share in 2026, as its high energy density and rechargeability make it the standard choice for soldier-portable equipment, uncrewed systems, vehicles, and naval platforms. Emerging chemistries are expected to grow at the highest CAGR, driven by demand for more energy per kilogram in drones and soldier kits and by the search for alternatives to supply chains dominated by China. Primary lithium remains important where long storage life or extreme environmental performance is required.
By type, the market is divided into rechargeable, non-rechargeable, and reserve & thermal batteries. Rechargeable batteries are expected to hold the largest share in 2026 and to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, as armed forces replace single-use batteries to reduce cost, waste, and logistics, and as uncrewed systems and electrified platforms rely on rechargeable packs. Reserve & thermal batteries benefit from higher munitions and missile production, since they provide guidance and fuzing power after years in storage, while non-rechargeable batteries keep a role in specialized long-life uses.
The application analysis spans soldier-portable & dismounted systems (tactical radios, night vision & optronics, and conformal wearable power), ground vehicles (starting, lighting & ignition, silent watch, and hybrid-electric propulsion), uncrewed systems (aerial, ground, and undersea), munitions & missiles, aircraft, naval platforms (submarines and surface ships), space systems, and base & field power. Soldier-portable & dismounted systems are expected to account for the largest share in 2026, given the very large number of radios, night vision devices, and other electronics used by ground forces. Uncrewed systems are expected to grow at the highest CAGR, driven by mass drone procurement and wider use of uncrewed ground and undersea vehicles in NATO and Asia-Pacific forces.
By component, the market is divided into cells, battery packs & modules, battery management systems, and chargers & power management. Battery packs & modules are expected to hold the largest share in 2026, as defense suppliers usually integrate cells into ruggedized packs built to military specifications. Battery management systems are expected to grow at the highest CAGR, driven by stricter safety requirements and the complexity of large lithium-ion installations on vehicles, ships, and submarines, where cell monitoring and fire protection are critical.
By end user, the report covers the army, navy, air force, marine corps, special operations forces, and space force. The army is expected to account for the largest share in 2026, reflecting its demand for soldier power, ground vehicle batteries, and uncrewed systems. The navy is expected to grow at the highest CAGR, owing to lithium-ion adoption in conventional submarines and uncrewed undersea vehicles and the electrification of surface ships, all of which require large, safety-qualified battery systems.
Regional Analysis
The report covers North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America, with analysis of 18 countries, the Nordic countries, and four rest-of-region groups. The regional analysis considers defense budgets, drone and munitions production, soldier and naval programs, local cell and pack manufacturing, and supply chain policy in each market.North America is expected to hold the largest share of the market in 2026, supported by the size of U.S. defense purchasing, programs for conformal batteries and soldier power, investment in drones and other uncrewed systems, and a base of established defense battery suppliers. The U.S. ban on batteries from named Chinese producers, which takes effect in October 2027, together with later restrictions on components from foreign entities of concern, is expected to speed up investment in domestic and allied cell and pack capacity.
Europe is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by higher defense budgets, large-scale drone production in Ukraine and other European countries, the rebuilding of munitions stockpiles, and conventional submarine programs, while governments also seek to reduce reliance on Chinese battery supply. The report covers the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, and the Nordic countries. Asia-Pacific holds a significant share, supported by South Korean and Japanese battery makers, lithium-ion submarine programs, and rising military spending in Australia, India, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, while Israel and the Gulf states lead demand in the Middle East & Africa.
Competitive Landscape
The report reviews key growth strategies, competitive benchmarking, the competitive dashboard (industry leaders, market differentiators, vanguards, and emerging companies), and market share/rank analysis by key player for 2025, together with company profiles covering business overview, financial overview, product portfolio, strategic developments, and SWOT analysis.The market is fragmented, with established defense battery specialists competing with diversified industrial battery makers, commercial cell producers from allied countries, and startups developing high-energy-density cells. Competition centers on military qualification, energy density, safety, documented supply chain origin, output capacity, and price. Leading companies are approving cell sources outside China, integrating vertically, developing conformal wearable and drone batteries, and adding capacity in the U.S., Europe, and allied countries, supported by acquisitions, partnerships between pack makers and allied cell producers, and government-backed investment. Ultralife, for example, reported a record backlog at the end of the second quarter of 2026, including conformal wearable battery orders and manpack radio batteries for a NATO partner.
Key companies profiled in the report include EnerSys (U.S.), Saft Groupe SAS (France), EaglePicher Technologies, LLC (U.S.), Ultralife Corporation (U.S.), Bren-Tronics, Inc. (U.S.), GS Yuasa Corporation (Japan), Epsilor-Electric Fuel Ltd. (Israel), Denchi Power Ltd (U.K.), Lincad Ltd (U.K.), Amprius Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), Exide Technologies (France), HBL Engineering Limited (India), and Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. (South Korea).
How This Report Helps
- Provides reliable market size estimates and long-term forecasts for the global military batteries market through 2036.
- Explains how drones, digitized soldiers, platform electrification, and munitions production are driving battery demand.
- Assesses the impact of U.S. procurement restrictions, Chinese export controls, and qualification requirements on supply.
- Identifies high-growth opportunities across chemistry, type, application, component, end user, and region.
- Tracks emerging technologies such as silicon-anode, solid-state, lithium-sulfur, and sodium-ion cells and conformal wearable batteries.
- Benchmarks leading battery suppliers on qualification, capacity, supply chain provenance, and strategies.
- Supports product planning, sourcing, partnership, and investment decisions for battery makers, platform integrators, defense agencies, and investors.
Key Questions Answered
- How large is the global military batteries market today, and how will it grow through 2036?
- How are drone warfare and uncrewed systems changing the volume and type of batteries armed forces need?
- What are the main drivers, restraints, opportunities, challenges, and trends shaping the market?
- How will the NDAA ban on Chinese batteries and China's export controls affect defense battery supply chains?
- Which chemistry, type, application, component, and end user segments will grow the fastest?
- How quickly will high-energy-density cells and lithium-ion submarine batteries be adopted?
- Which regions and countries offer the most attractive opportunities?
- Who are the leading companies in the market, and how do they compete?
- What acquisitions, partnerships, and capacity investments are shaping the competitive landscape?
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Research Methodology
4. Market Overview
5. Military Batteries Market, by Chemistry
6. Military Batteries Market, by Type
7. Military Batteries Market, by Application
8. Military Batteries Market, by Component
9. Military Batteries Market, by End User
10. Military Batteries Market, by Geography
11. Competitive Landscape
12. Company Profiles
13. Appendix
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
Companies Mentioned
- EnerSys
- Saft Groupe SAS
- EaglePicher Technologies, LLC
- Ultralife Corporation
- Bren-Tronics, Inc.
- GS Yuasa Corporation
- Epsilor-Electric Fuel Ltd.
- Denchi Power Ltd
- Lincad Ltd
- Amprius Technologies, Inc.
- Exide Technologies
- HBL Engineering Limited
- Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
