How a UK Battery Startup Just Landed a Major Defense Investment

Jan de Vries · 2026-08-14

When you think about the backbone of modern defense, batteries probably aren't the first thing that comes to mind. But they should be. Without reliable, high-performance power systems, even the most advanced naval vessels are just floating metal. That's why a recent move by Portsmouth-based SubSea Craft is turning heads in the maritime tech world. The company just made a multi-million-dollar investment in LORILLION, a Coventry-based engineering firm that specializes in bespoke electrification and clean-energy tech. The deal gives SubSea Craft a 40% stake in LORILLION, and it's a clear signal that the UK is serious about building sovereign capability in battery design and manufacturing for defense, marine, and automotive applications. ### Why This Investment Matters This isn't just about one company buying into another. It's about securing the UK's ability to design, build, and sustain critical battery systems on home soil. For too long, the supply chain for advanced batteries has been reliant on overseas partners. That leaves a vulnerability. If you can't make the components yourself, you're at the mercy of someone else's timeline and priorities. SubSea Craft's investment changes that equation. By bringing LORILLION closer, they're ensuring that the engineering know-how and manufacturing muscle stay within the UK. As SubSea Craft's CEO, Camilla Martin, put it: "Modern defence capability is only as resilient as the industrial base behind it." She's not wrong. ### What LORILLION Brings to the Table LORILLION was founded in 2023, but they've moved fast. They provide battery development services across defense, marine, aerospace, and automotive sectors. Their specialty is rapid development of bespoke battery systems for demanding, highly regulated environments. That's not easy work. It requires deep expertise in everything from initial concept to final certification. With this fresh capital, LORILLION plans to expand its engineering team to over 70 people. They're also accelerating work on their proprietary battery-management technology. And perhaps most importantly, they're supporting a new production facility in the Midlands set to open next year. That's a big step from a company that's only been around for a couple of years. ### The VICTA Connection Here's where it gets really interesting. SubSea Craft's flagship platform, the VICTA, is a dual-domain maritime vessel. It can travel at high speed on the surface, then transition to a wet, subsurface mode for covert operations. Think of it as a submarine that can sprint on the surface when needed. For that kind of capability, you need a battery system that can handle serious pressure. LORILLION is developing a bespoke pressure-tolerant battery for VICTA, designed to operate at depths exceeding 164 feet. That's not off-the-shelf tech. It's mission-critical engineering. ### A Strategic Partnership, Not Just a Check Richie Frost, LORILLION's CEO, sees this as a true partnership. "Our strategic partnership with SubSea Craft will accelerate the development of key battery technologies," he said. The goal is an end-to-end sovereign capability, from concept to certified production, all within the UK. This is the kind of vertical integration that makes a supply chain resilient. When your battery is not a commodity but a mission-critical system, you want your design and manufacturing partner working right alongside your own engineers. That's exactly what SubSea Craft is setting up. ### The Bigger Picture For anyone watching the defense tech space, this deal is a reminder that the industrial base matters. It's easy to focus on the flashy platforms and the cool tech demos. But the real strength comes from the companies that make the components that make it all work. SubSea Craft's investment in LORILLION is a bet on that principle. It's a move that strengthens the UK's position in advanced battery tech and ensures that some of the most strategically important British technology stays exactly where it belongs: in British hands.