NEO Battery Achieves Near-Double Flight Time in Live Drone Field Test, Advancing Commercial Readiness of Non-Chinese Battery Platform
- Demonstrated 98% increase in average flight time versus mass-produced Chinese battery benchmark via live drone field test
- Achieved 50% faster charging rates from silicon anode integration & improved flight power efficiency at reasonable costs
- Exceeded drone customer’s internal expectations and metrics on performance enhancements from customization
- Advancing to commercial readiness through pack and system-level optimization
TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2026 /CNW/ – NEO Battery Materials Ltd. (“NEO” or the “Company“) (TSXV: NBM) (OTC: NBMFF), a low-cost, silicon-enhanced battery developer that enables longer-running, rapid-charging batteries for drones, robotics, and electronics, is pleased to announce the successful completion of a live surveillance drone field demonstration of its newly developed high-performance drone battery cells (the “NBM Drone Cell“), confirming the previously disclosed cell-level performance improvements translate directly into real-world operational gains.
In a live flight test conducted using a Korean original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customer’s commercial surveillance drone product, the NBM Drone Cell delivered a 98% increase in average flight time compared to the mass-produced Chinese drone battery benchmark. After multiple demonstrations, flight duration extended on average from 29.9 minutes to 59.2 minutes under equivalent operating parameters. The test was conducted at an altitude of approximately 70 feet under cold-weather conditions of -3 to -5 degrees Celsius (23 – 26 F).
The prolonged flight time was driven by NBM Drone Cell’s high-performance specifications of 755 Wh and 260 Wh/kg at the pack-level, representing energy capacity and density enhancements of 55% and 29%, respectively, compared to the Chinese benchmark. In addition, NEO’s high-quality manufacturing produced a more stable voltage profile, enabling low-voltage operations while ensuring safety against power loss and operational failure (crash). Importantly, to maintain equivalent thrust/lift and power characteristics during flight, NBM Drone Cell packs successfully matched the discharge rate (measured in C-rate) and current (measured in ampere) performance of the benchmark battery.
A spokesperson of the South Korean drone manufacturer stated,
This live field test exceeded our internal expectations and metrics on what high-performance customization could bring for drone products.
”At reasonable costs, NBM Drone Cells initially proves that high-capacity, high-stability voltage batteries can significantly enhance drone flight time and mission endurance, while maintaining high safety standards. This overall demonstration can raise the competitive edge within the industrial, emergency response, precision agriculture, and defense drone markets where extended operational durability is critical. “
General (Ret.) C.J. Ko, Director of NEO, expressed:
Chinese manufacturers currently dominate the supply of global drone batteries.
”This demonstration advances NEO’s objective of establishing a competitive, non-Chinese battery solution for drones and unmanned systems (UAS), where supply chain and performance constraints remain key procurement considerations for OEMs, governments, and the military.This field validation of the NBM Drone Cells establishes a robust business case for defense acquisition as NEO’s technology materially extends mission capabilities without requiring drone redesigns, allowing for rapid integration into military systems.”
Beyond absolute flight duration, the field test showcased improvements in efficiency metrics. Flight time-per-capacity (measured in minutes-per-Ah) increased by approximately 28%, and flight time-per-weight improved by approximately 80%, indicating more effective energy utilization at the system-level. Moreover, silicon anode integration enabled a 50% increase in charging rate from 0.2Ah/min to 0.31Ah/min under standard conditions, with further gains of up to 150% (0.5Ah/min) achievable under ultra-fast charging protocols.
With initial field validation completed, NEO is advancing towards NBM Drone Cell prototype-to-commercial readiness by integrating battery management system (BMS) software and optimizing pack-level casing materials to further enhance energy density and thermal performance. The Company will expedite structured customer and government evaluations for commercial integration and expand engagement with drone and UAS manufacturers in the U.S. and NATO countries.
Drone and UAS applications represent a key catalyst segment within the global lithium-ion battery market, which was estimated at approximately US $9.1 billion in 2025 and is projected to exceed US $29 billion by 20321. As defense, industrial, and consumer UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) usage scales, battery technology must evolve to meet rigorous performance requirements. Concurrently, advances in faster-charging architecture and complex BMS are broadening the drone/UAS market, enabling longer, safer operations and more efficient energy utilization. As a result, the synergy between drone platform advancement and battery innovation will be a major driver of sustained growth across both markets.
Appointment of Nancy Zhao as Chief Financial Officer
The Company is pleased to welcome Ms. Nancy Zhao back as Chief Financial Officer. The Company would like to further thank Mr. Daniel Lim for fulfilling this role for the past two years.
Ms. Zhao is a seasoned accounting and business executive with a CPA, with over 10 years of experience in both public and private companies. She has extensive coverage and expertise in various industries, covering manufacturing, mining, technology, sports entertainment, marketing, and real estate. As part of compensation to Ms. Zhao, the Company has granted incentive stock options (the “Options”) to acquire an aggregate of 120,000 common shares and has issued 150,000 restricted stock units (the “RSUs”) in accordance with the Company’s Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan. Subject to the terms of the Option agreement and vesting provisions, all Options were granted at an exercise price of $0.59 with an expiry date on February 17, 2031. Subject to the RSU agreement, all RSUs will vest after a 12-month period.
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NEO Battery Achieves Near-Double Flight Time in Live Drone Field Test, Advancing Commercial Readiness of Non-Chinese Battery Platform, source
