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NEO Battery Materials Ltd., a low-cost, silicon-enhanced battery developer that enables longer-running, rapid-charging batteries for drones, robotics, and physical AI, is pleased to announce it has entered into a significant defense partnership agreement (the "Agreement") with the Republic of Korea ("ROK") Army's Capital Defense Command (CDC) – a direct reporting unit to the President of South Korea and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Stationed in Seoul and known as the "Shield Unit", the CDC is one of the highest-ranking national command units, responsible for protecting the Presidential Office (Blue House), the capital and key national infrastructure.
This partnership represents a strategic expansion into a higher command level within the ROK Army, operating directly under the Army Headquarters with significant decision-making and procurement authority. The Agreement builds on NEO's momentum in its Korean Defense Integration Strategy (see previously announced partnerships with the 12th Infantry Division dated April 1, 2026, and the Capital Mechanized Infantry Division dated April 22, 2026), and serves as a critical milestone due to the CDC's ability to advocate for the prompt implementation of non-Chinese battery solutions that meet stringent security clearance and performance requirements.
The Agreement will focus on the supply and deployment of high-performance, defense batteries within the CDC's drone and robotics units to enhance operational runtime and energy efficiency. Furthermore along with Korean drone partners, NEO will provide specialized drone training and technical battery advisory to support CDC's personnel, all of whom are required to be certified in drone operations. This Agreement followed a successful live demonstration of NEO's high-energy drone batteries held at the CDC's parade ground on April 30, 2026.
Lieutenant General Changjoon Eo, Commander of the Capital Defense Command, expressed, "The CDC was highly impressed with the drone flight time performance exhibited by NEO's high-performance batteries compared to commercial Chinese products. As the ROK Army and its units initiate the transition towards a Korea-made supply chain, NEO Battery will act as an integral partner for the CDC and its sub-units to ensure traceability and performance for defense batteries in our drone and robotics platforms."
"Securing this partnership with a high-ranking command unit such as the CDC further validates the effectiveness of NEO's battery technology," stated Spencer Huh, President & CEO of NEO. "As the CDC is a heavy consumer of drone technology and requires high-performance, non-Chinese components to ensure national security, NEO's in-country presence, along with our robust performance data and wide technology offering, aptly positions us to meet stringent scopes of work for the highest levels of the ROK military."
