SubSea Craft's Bold Battery Bet: A 40% Stake in UK's LORILLION

Jan de Vries · 2026-08-14

When a maritime tech company decides to invest millions in a battery specialist, it's usually about more than just powering a boat. That's exactly what's happening with SubSea Craft's recent move, and it could reshape how the UK builds critical defense technology. Portsmouth-based SubSea Craft (SSC) has just acquired a 40% equity stake in LORILLION, a Coventry-based engineering firm that specializes in bespoke electrification and clean-energy tech. While the exact figure wasn't disclosed, reports point to a multi-million-dollar investment. The goal? To strengthen the UK's ability to design, industrialize, and manufacture specialized battery systems for defense, marine, and automotive sectors. ### Why This Investment Matters You might wonder why a boat company cares about batteries. Well, it's not just about batteries—it's about sovereignty. Modern defense systems rely on advanced power sources, and having that capability in-house is a strategic advantage. Richie Frost, CEO of LORILLION, put it plainly: "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 isn't just corporate speak. It means LORILLION can now offer a complete route from initial concept through design, testing, and certified production—all within the UK's borders. For a country that values its defense independence, that's a big deal. ### What LORILLION Brings to the Table Founded in 2023, LORILLION might be young, but it's already making waves. The company provides battery development services across defense, marine, aerospace, and automotive sectors. Their specialty? Rapidly developing bespoke battery systems for demanding, highly regulated applications. Here's what they offer: - Turnkey services from concept development to product design - Validation and certification for safety-critical systems - Production support for high-stakes environments With this fresh capital, LORILLION plans to expand its engineering team to over 70 people. They're also accelerating development of proprietary battery-management technology and building a new production facility in the Midlands, set to open next year. ### SubSea Craft's Vision: The VICTA Platform SubSea Craft, founded in 2014, isn't your average maritime company. Their mission is to give maritime and amphibious forces an operational edge through rapid research, development, and delivery of maritime technology. Their flagship platform, VICTA, is a dual-domain vessel that can speed across the surface before transitioning to a wet, subsurface mode for covert operations. Think of it as a submarine and speedboat hybrid, designed to deliver operators or equipment discreetly. For VICTA to work, it needs a battery system that can handle extreme pressure. That's where LORILLION comes in. They're developing a bespoke pressure-tolerant battery system designed to operate at depths exceeding 164 feet (50 meters). That's not your everyday car battery. ### A Strategic Partnership, Not Just a Transaction Camilla Martin, CEO of SubSea Craft, summed it up best: "Modern defense capability is only as resilient as the industrial base behind it. Our investment in LORILLION is about more than securing batteries. It's about securing the engineering knowledge, manufacturing capability, and freedom of action required to develop and sustain strategically important British technology." She added, "For VICTA, the battery is not a commodity component. It's 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." ### The Bigger Picture This deal highlights a growing trend: companies are realizing that critical technologies shouldn't rely on global supply chains that can be disrupted. By investing in local expertise, they're building resilience and ensuring they can act fast when it matters. For LORILLION, this investment is a springboard. For SubSea Craft, it's a strategic lock-in of essential tech. And for the UK's defense sector, it's a step toward true independence in battery manufacturing. As both companies move forward, the real test will be whether they can deliver on this promise. But with a clear vision and deep pockets, the odds look good.