The Royal Navy
Case Study: Royal Navy Drone Squadron — High-Capacity Lithium Battery Storage (UK)
This case study documents a deployment of Phoenix battery safes for the UK Royal Navy’s drone operations. Phoenix Safe Company is Battery Safes Australia’s manufacturer and supply partner. The same product range is available to Australian defence, government, and commercial drone operators through Battery Safes Australia.
Background
In late 2024, Phoenix Safe received an enquiry from the Royal Navy’s Drone Squadron regarding safe storage and charging of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries used in tactical unmanned aerial vehicles.
The Navy’s existing storage options on the market didn’t meet their requirements. Most available cabinets lacked the shelf loading capacity, internal volume, or safety features needed for batteries of this scale and weight.
THE CHALLENGE –
The squadron’s T150B Malloy Aeronautics batteries presented a serious storage and charging challenge. Each battery weighed 26 kilograms and delivered up to 5.44kWh — making them among the most powerful batteries in regular operational use. The squadron held 20 at the time of enquiry, with numbers expected to double to 40. A further 140 smaller drone batteries also required secure containment.
Standard cabinets simply weren’t built for this. The solution needed to safely store and charge high-capacity batteries, handle the physical weight and size of the units, scale as the fleet grew, and meet the Royal Navy’s strict operational and safety standards.
The Solution
Phoenix Safe’s BS1940 Battery Commander Pro Series — certified to VDMA 24994:2024-08 — was specified for the deployment. The BS1940’s reinforced insulated shelving, full electronic monitoring system, and six available size options made it the only product capable of meeting the Navy’s requirements without compromise.
Relevance for Australian Drone Operators
Commercial drone operators, survey companies, emergency services, and government agencies across Australia are managing growing fleets of high-capacity lithium batteries. The storage and charging challenges are identical regardless of geography — and the consequences of an unmanaged thermal event in an operational setting are serious.
Battery Safes Australia supplies the BS1940 series to Australian operators. Contact us with details of your battery fleet and we’ll recommend the right configuration.
The Outcome
