6K Energy and CRG Defense have announced a strategic seven-year collaboration aimed at establishing a secure domestic battery supply chain for U.S. defense and other mission-critical applications. The agreement represents an early but significant step toward reducing dependence on foreign battery materials while supporting next-generation American-made battery cells and packs.
Under the deal, 6K Energy will supply CRG Defense with single-crystal NMC811 cathode active material produced at its North Andover, Massachusetts facility. Additional production capacity is expected in late 2026, while the company’s larger PlusCAM facility in Jackson, Tennessee, is scheduled to begin operations in early 2028. Once online, that plant is expected to support CRG Defense’s future demand growth using 6K Energy’s proprietary UniMelt microwave plasma manufacturing platform.
The partnership includes a structured quarterly purchase plan intended to guarantee stable and predictable material supply for CRG Defense’s defense programs, particularly where uninterrupted access is essential. Both companies said the collaboration is designed not only to secure current sourcing needs, but also to encourage further investment across the broader U.S. battery ecosystem.
The announcement comes as new federal restrictions tighten sourcing requirements for defense technologies. Following the FCC’s late-2025 ban on certain foreign-produced unmanned aerial system critical components, and provisions in the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act limiting procurement of batteries from foreign entities of concern, domestic alternatives have become increasingly important.
CRG Defense said the partnership will help ensure its drone platforms and other systems use NDAA-compliant battery solutions built from U.S.-produced materials. The company emphasized that secure energy storage is becoming a strategic necessity as battery-powered defense platforms expand.
6K Energy highlighted its UniMelt production process as a scalable and lower-impact method for manufacturing advanced materials. The company says the technology can improve throughput, reduce costs, and strengthen supply-chain resilience while supporting defense, industrial, energy storage, and mobility markets.