Latest Flight Testing News

Li-S Energy’s lithium-sulfur battery powered the Pegasus drone through an almost two-hour Queensland flight covering more than 75 kilometres. The result strengthens the technology’s aviation credentials, but the partners are still assessing commercialisation rather than announcing sales.

Li-S Energy has narrowed its FY26 loss and reached several commercialisation milestones, including a 2C Power Cell, international shipping approvals and its first lithium foil sale. But the ASX battery developer still needs customer offtake and fresh funding before its proposed 1 GWh manufacturing expansion can become reality.

Orbital Corporation has broadened its customer base and product lineup, positioning itself to capture growth in defence and commercial UAV markets with $3.2 million in expected sales for Q1 FY2027.

Cadoux’s premiumHPA® alumina was validated in a hypersonic test flight in the US, powering Navitas Systems’ lithium-ion batteries through extreme conditions and reinforcing its role in advanced battery applications.

Li-S Energy reported a reduced net loss of $4.9 million in FY26, propelled by major technological advances and a $7.8 million ARENA grant to scale manufacturing. The company secured key regulatory approvals and expanded strategic defence partnerships, positioning itself at the forefront of sovereign lithium sulfur battery supply.

Aurora Labs posted a 36% increase in net loss to $5.1 million for FY2026 despite securing key defence contracts and partnerships. The company is transitioning from R&D to early commercialisation of its micro gas turbine propulsion systems, backed by a $5.5 million capital raise and government grants.

Orbital Corporation's 150HFE propulsion system has powered its inaugural flight on AATI's AiRanger UAV, triggering follow-on orders worth over US$750,000 and signalling growth in UAV propulsion sales and service revenue.

Aurora Labs has begun batch deliveries of its AU4 micro gas turbine propulsion systems to Sovereign Propulsion Systems, marking a key step towards real-world flight testing and commercialisation in defence and UAV markets.

Nanoveu’s ECS-DoT AI chip has demonstrated up to 27.8% improvement in drone cruise energy efficiency in live flight tests, achieving gains without any hardware changes and consuming negligible power.

Orbital Corporation advances its UAV engine production and hybrid propulsion technology while managing a $0.5 million net cash outflow in Q1 2026, supported by a $43 million business pipeline and new international contracts.

Aurora Labs has marked a significant milestone by securing its first purchase order for micro gas turbine engines, alongside strategic MOUs with major defence groups and a $5.5 million capital raise to fuel growth.

Aurora Labs has secured its first $250,000 order for AU4 propulsion engines from Sovereign Propulsion Systems, marking a key step in its commercialisation strategy targeting unmanned aerial vehicles and defence markets.