Cadoux’s premiumHPA® powers Navitas battery in hypersonic flight test

Hypersonic Flight Demonstrates Battery Resilience

Cadoux Ltd (ASX:CCM) has marked a significant technical milestone with the successful hypersonic test flight of a Pluto Aerospace rocket in New Mexico, USA, on 18 August 2026. The rocket’s onboard management system was powered by lithium-ion batteries developed by Navitas Systems and American Energy Technologies Company (AETC), incorporating Cadoux’s nanosized premiumHPA® alumina. The flight reached speeds of 5.5 Mach, endured acceleration forces up to 150 G, and climbed above 45,000 feet, placing extraordinary demands on battery performance.

The Navitas batteries, enhanced with recycled materials and Cadoux’s premiumHPA®, withstood extreme temperature swings from +300°C at ground level to -50°C in the troposphere. They maintained reliable power delivery, thermal stability, and structural integrity throughout the rapid acceleration, vibration, and environmental changes of the flight. No safety incidents such as thermal runaway or physical damage were reported, underscoring the battery’s robustness under rigorous aerospace conditions.

Advanced Materials and Battery Technology Partnership

The Navitas battery design integrates AETC’s advanced additives technology, combining primary and recycled materials with Cadoux’s premiumHPA®. This synergy has enabled consistent, high-performance lithium-ion cells tailored for specialised applications requiring extreme reliability and safety. Navitas Systems, a subsidiary of East Penn Manufacturing Company, brings decades of battery manufacturing expertise, supporting military and commercial customers with high-performance energy storage solutions.

Cadoux’s premiumHPA® acts as a critical enhancer in the battery architecture, improving safety, operating life, and overall performance. The successful test flight validates the material’s qualification for demanding engineering environments, advancing Cadoux’s commercial de-risking efforts for its premiumHPA® product.

Strategic Implications for Cadoux’s Battery Materials Business

Managing Director Roland Hill highlighted the flight as a “technology breakthrough” and a real-world demonstration of premiumHPA®’s value in next-generation battery applications. The test flight complements Cadoux’s ongoing work within the EU SAFELOOP lithium-ion battery consortium, where premiumHPA® has already been qualified for advanced battery cells incorporating recycled materials. This latest US hypersonic validation further strengthens Cadoux’s positioning in the critical minerals and battery materials sector, which is poised for growth amid accelerating global electrification.

Cadoux continues to develop its high purity alumina projects in Western Australia and rare earths processing capabilities in the Northern Territory through its Minhub Project. Both initiatives align with Australia’s critical minerals strategy, aiming to establish sovereign supply chains for essential materials powering electric vehicles and static energy storage.