The battery startup powering the laser-weapons race

Chariot Defense, a San Francisco-based startup, is developing advanced battery systems to address the energy gap for expeditionary forces, particularly for directed energy weapons. The company's Amphora battery system offers modular voltage and low-signature power, designed to support a range of equipment from radios and drones to sensors and laser weapons. Adam Warmoth, founder and CEO of Chariot Defense, experienced an "aha!" moment at SOF Week 2024, recognizing that breakthroughs in high-voltage batteries and silicon carbide power electronics, driven by the electric vehicle and aircraft industries, were not being adopted by the defense sector. Warmoth's background includes work in electric aircraft and at Anduril, where he managed counter-drone and air defense systems. During deployments in contested environments, he encountered significant challenges with existing power solutions, such as inefficient diesel generators that created targetable signatures and suffered from reliability issues. Chariot Defense aims to provide a secure, non-Chinese supply chain solution that is interoperable with existing U.S. military equipment, bridging the gap between commercial technological advancements and defense needs.