ORKA^TM Supports Strategy of Developing Underwater Applications for Commercial and Defence Industries

Ilika, the UK pioneer in solid state battery technology, announces that it has launched a new product brand, ORKA, for its deep-sea battery systems. The ORKA brand addresses customer demand in the growing market for pressure-tolerant batteries for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (“AUV”).

The launch of the ORKA brand is part of Ilika’s strategy to deploy its Goliath batteries in non-automotive applications, including defence, to secure early commercialisation opportunities.

AUVs are used for underwater surveys and to secure critical national infrastructure such as fibre optic cables and gas pipelines. These uncrewed, untethered robotic submarines operate independently using pre-programmed instructions. They dive, navigate, and collect underwater data without human pilots or cables, making them ideal for deep-sea mapping, commercial infrastructure inspection, and military defence.

Pressure-tolerant batteries are the optimum solution as they do not require a heavy metal pressure vessel to contain them. Ilika offers pressure-tolerant batteries which offer longer-endurance and the ability to operate at depths of up to 6,000 metres. The cells and packs are built in the UK helping to provide a secure and sovereign supply chain, which will be crucial for defence applications. In March 2026, Ilika announced it had received positive feedback from a UK defence agency on safety tests of its Goliath batteries under battlefield conditions, highlighting the potential of the technology for use in high-risk, mission-critical environments where safety is paramount.

Graeme Purdy, CEO of Ilika, said: "Over the course of this year, we have seen increasing interest and opportunity for our Goliath batteries in non-automotive markets such as e-bikes, defence and marine, which offer early routes to commercialisation. AUVs are deployed in both commercial and defence applications, for which sovereign supply can be crucial. Mobile energy storage is important for many modern defence applications, including AUVs and drones, and we have recently appointed Maj Gen (Retd) Robin Anderton-Brown as a defence sector advisor to support strengthening our access to these markets.”

For more information visit https://www.ilika.com/orka-auv...