
18 March 2026
Ilika plc
('Ilika,' the 'Company,' or the 'Group')
Ilika Announces Positive Feedback on Safety Testing of Goliath Cells by UK Defence Agency
Independent Test Results Support Defence Applications
Ilika (AIM: IKA), the UK pioneer in solid state battery technology, announces it has received positive feedback from a UK defence agency on safety tests of its batteries under battlefield conditions, highlighting the potential of the technology for use in high-risk, mission-critical environments where safety is paramount.
In December 2025, Ilika delivered prototypes to customers across multiple industries, including an agency which advises the UK Ministry of Defence. The prototypes were subjected to firing range tests, which showed that:
· A Goliath 10Ah cell could survive a single shot before a thermal event was triggered by a second one
· Low state-of-charge 10Ah Goliath cells did not show a thermal event
· A Goliath cell showed a delayed reaction before entering thermal runaway
· A Goliath cell reached a lower thermal runaway temperature than conventional Nickel Cobalt Aluminium ("NCA") lithium-ion cells
· Despite Goliath 10Ah cells storing 3x the energy of conventional NCA cells being tested under equivalent conditions in the same trial, the Goliath cells had a similar thermal response
This independent validation follows the delivery of Goliath prototypes to multiple customers in December 2025 and supports Ilika's ongoing engagement with partners evaluating safety‑critical applications. Under certain abuse conditions, conventional lithium-ion batteries can enter a state of thermal runaway, which is a chain reaction in which the battery temperature rises uncontrollably, leading to a fire or explosion.
A power sources subject matter expert for the UK defence agency said: "Ilika's Goliath cells were screened alongside an extensive range of other battery technologies (both experimental and mature) as part of our work to understand the risk associated with increased electrification, and to understand which battery technologies can offer improved safety over conventional lithium-ion. We would be very interested in evaluating Ilika's technology further in applications optimised for deployment in defence environments."
Graeme Purdy, CEO of Ilika, said: "Events in recent months have highlighted that we live in times with a heightened security risk. Mobile energy storage is important for many modern defence applications, including drones, and we are working with experts in the field to identify the most appropriate avenues for commercialising Goliath in this sector, alongside other applications where enhanced safety provides a clear competitive advantage."
ENDS--
Enquiries:
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Ilika Plc Jason Stewart, Chief Financial Officer
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Via FTI Consulting |
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Cavendish Capital Markets Limited (Nomad and Broker) Neil McDonald
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+44 (0)131 220 9771 |
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FTI Consulting (Comms Advisors) Ben Brewerton Elizabeth Adams Dwight Burden |
ilika@fticonsulting.com |
About Ilika plc
Ilika is a global expert in the development of solid-state battery technology for electric vehicles, medical devices and consumer appliances. The Company's pioneering next-generation technologies aim to provide scalable, affordable alternatives to conventional batteries, to industries which need to incorporate a smaller, lighter, and safer power source in their products.
The Company has two product lines. Its Stereax batteries are designed for powering miniature medical implants, industrial wireless sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) applications and the Goliath large format batteries are designed for EV cars and cordless appliances.
Through its licensing business model, Ilika supplies its IP portfolio to both OEMs and manufacturing partners in exchange for a license fee and future royalties.