Solus Power, a UK energy tech firm, has secured funding from the Ministry of Defence’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) to further develop its portable battery system known as Kratos, sometimes called a “jerry can of electricity.” According to the announcement, this move aims to accelerate the system toward operational field use.
Under the contract, Solus Power will collaborate with DASA and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to refine and test the dual-use battery design. Dstl’s role includes ensuring the solution meets the Royal Navy’s Future Commando Force requirements, which is backing the project.
Solus Power describes Kratos as a rugged, portable lithium-ion battery pack capable of direct DC-to-DC charging. Its modular architecture allows multiple units to be connected for greater output, making it suitable for powering tactical field command posts, medical units, or disaster relief operations. The solution is intended for hand carry, vehicle mounting, or even drone deployment.
An advantage emphasized by the company is Kratos’s low heat signature and near-silent operation, features that enhance stealth in contested environments.
Stas Leonidou, Solus Power’s founder and CEO, said that being selected by DASA validates Kratos’s potential to transform how defense forces access power in remote and austere settings. He remarked that the company is committed to pioneering portable energy technologies suitable for modern electrified military platforms.
DASA’s initiative supporting this project stems from its “Delivering operational advantage via improved self-sufficiency and operational energy innovation” competition, launched to identify tech solutions that bolster deployed forces’ endurance and autonomy. The competition favors systems that reduce logistical burden while maintaining robustness in field conditions.
Darren Browning, on behalf of Dstl, noted that science and tech innovation is key to improving armed forces’ resilience. He said Dstl has contributed technical guidance to shape Kratos’s power specifications to align with real field equipment demands.
As defense operations increasingly rely on electronic systems, drones, sensors, and electrified platforms, the need for reliable off-grid power is growing. Traditional generators remain heavy, noisy, fuel-dependent, and complex to supply. Solus Power asserts that Kratos addresses these limitations by being scalable, quiet, and flexible for deployment across land, maritime, and aerial domains.
Beyond military use, the modular and portable design of Kratos may also find applications in disaster relief, remote medical operations, or anywhere resilient, mobile energy is needed.
Founded in 2020, Solus Power specializes in rapidly deployable battery systems, energy storage, and distribution technologies suited to challenging environments.
