Packet Digital
Packet Digital designs and manufactures NDAA-compliant lithium-ion smart batteries, BMS, MPPT, and power management systems for U.S. defense UAS, with vertically integrated cell-to-pack production in Fargo, North Dakota.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersHazelton, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Packet Digital does
Packet Digital designs, manufactures, and assembles lithium-ion smart batteries and power management systems for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and autonomous defense platforms. Founded in 2003 in Fargo, North Dakota, the company originated as a power-saving chip developer (PowerSage ICs) before pivoting into drone power systems via a 2014 U.S. Marines program and ultimately into vertically integrated battery manufacturing. Core technology includes custom lithium-ion smart batteries with embedded battery management systems (BMS) delivering 30-40% higher energy density and 2-3x longer cycle life than competing solutions, Maximum Power Point Trackers (MPPT) with 94-98% efficiency and 500Hz adaptive tracking, and Power Distribution Boards supporting up to 200A across 10S configurations.
The company's product portfolio spans smart batteries and chargers, fleet management software with predictive health analytics, MPPT and PMAD power electronics, and custom design services. Manufacturing is anchored by a 25,000-sq-ft assembly facility (7A) housing an SMT line capable of placing 50,000 components per hour, and an 80,000-sq-ft Badland Batteries cell plant — the first battery cell manufacturing facility in North Dakota and the upper Midwest, producing NDAA-compliant lithium-ion cells specifically for drones and unmanned systems.
Revenue is generated through a hybrid model: multi-phase U.S. government defense contracts (Navy Logistics UAS, AFRL space power, APFIT, SBIR Phase III) representing the majority of historical contract value (>$127M cumulative), enterprise sales to defense prime contractors (Lockheed Martin, Anduril), and an emerging commercial channel through the Badland Batteries e-commerce storefront. The company holds CMMC Level 2, ITAR, and ISO9001 certifications, positioning it as a vetted domestic supplier to the U.S. defense industrial base.
Packet Digital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Packet Digital
- Legal name
- PACKET DIGITAL
- Website
- https://packetdigital.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Packet Digital designs and manufactures NDAA-compliant lithium-ion smart batteries, BMS, MPPT, and power management systems for U.S. defense UAS, with vertically integrated cell-to-pack production in Fargo, North Dakota.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Packet Digital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- UAS Battery Systems
- NAICS
- Battery Manufacturing (33591), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (3353)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Battery Pack Manufacturing & Module Assembly (EUAFABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH) (IMAGAHAA), Battery Management Systems (BMS) & Battery Electronics (IMAGAHAC), Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB)
Keywords
Where Packet Digital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hazelton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Packet Digital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Battery Design and Manufacturing: Design, prototype, and manufacture custom lithium-ion batteries for UAS and defense platforms. Revenue generated from one-time custom development projects and subsequent production orders for defense contractors and commercial UAS manufacturers.
- Commercial Battery Products: Sale of off-the-shelf battery packs including Badland Batteries 12S (17000mAh) and 6S (17000mAh) configurations through e-commerce channel.
- Defense Government Contracts: Multi-phase government contracts including SBIR Phase III awards, APFIT awards, Navy contracts, and AFRL space power contracts. Revenue from U.S. Navy Logistics UAS Family of Advanced Batteries program and Naval Air Warfare Center contracts.
- Power Electronics (MPPT, PMAD): Sale of Maximum Power Point Trackers and Power Management and Distribution systems for solar UAS, satellites, and defense power applications.
- PCB Assembly Services: Printed circuit board design and assembly services using SMT line for customers like 701x, delivering 10,000+ PCBAs with high quality standards.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom Battery Development - Quote-based pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Badland Batteries 12S and 6S Commercial Packs |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Packet Digital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Packet Digital designs, manufactures, assembles, and tests high-performance smart lithium-ion battery packs, battery cells, battery management systems (BMS), Maximum Power Point Trackers (MPPT), and Power Distribution Boards (PDB) for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), defense platforms, and small-satellite applications. The company operates vertically integrated domestic manufacturing through its 25,000-square-foot 7A assembly facility and 80,000-square-foot Badland Batteries cell plant in Fargo, North Dakota, producing NDAA-compliant batteries and power electronics.
Product overview
Packet Digital operates as a vertically integrated UAS and autonomous system battery and power systems company. Its portfolio spans smart battery packs and chargers (the core Smart Batteries and Smart Chargers products), fleet management software, power electronics (Maximum Power Point Trackers and Power Distribution Boards), and custom design/assembly services. The subsidiary Badland Batteries manages both commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) battery pack products (12S and 6S packs) and the company's domestic battery cell manufacturing capability — an 80,000-sq-ft plant in Fargo, ND producing NDAA-compliant lithium-ion cells. Manufacturing is anchored by the 7A assembly facility (25,000 sq ft) with in-house SMT/PCBA, welding, and testing capabilities. The company holds CMMC Level 2 certification and ITAR compliance, positioning it as a defense-sector supplier.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Badland Batteries: Subsidiary brand offering off-the-shelf commercial UAS batteries (12S and 6S configurations) and battery cell manufacturing. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Packet Digital.
- 7A
Products and services
- Smart Batteries High-performance lithium-ion battery packs for UAS and autonomous systems with embedded battery management electronics that deliver real-time telemetry — state of charge, temperature, voltage, current, and fault data — to the flight computer for autonomous decision-making and early fault detection.
- Smart Battery Chargers
- Fleet Management Software Centralized cloud-based software platform that monitors and controls all batteries and chargers across a fleet, providing real-time state monitoring, fault notifications, predictive battery health analysis, and proactive replacement alerts.
- Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) Solar power management hardware and embedded algorithms for UAS that maximize power transfer from solar panels to battery storage, with 500 Hz fast-tracking, 94–98% efficiency, DroneCAN telemetry, and parallelable outputs. Available in MPPT-6SBB and MPPT-12SBB buck/boost models.
- Power Distribution Board (PDB) Drone power distribution board supporting up to 200A max current, up to 10S battery configurations, 2 battery inputs, 8 ESC outputs, 3 auxiliary outputs, dual 5V/3.2A regulators, and voltage/current sensing for mission-critical UAVs.
- Custom Battery Design End-to-end custom lithium-ion battery development service for drones and UAS including R&D, prototyping, and manufacturing. Batteries deliver 30–40% higher energy density and 2x–3x higher cycle life versus competition, with rugged IP67-capable construction supporting LCO, NMC, and NCA chemistries in 18650 and LiPo formats.
- Solar Integration Products (Endurance 25 & Outpost 75) Portable solar charging systems including the Endurance 25 (25W tri-folding portable panel for USB devices, 1.9 lbs) and Outpost 75 (75–150W transportable solar power system for military and remote applications with multi-mode DC/AC output and NATO/USB connections).
- Badland Batteries Commercial UAS Battery Packs Off-the-shelf, American-made lithium-ion UAS battery packs sold under the Badland Batteries sub-brand of Packet Digital, including 12S and 6S 17000mAh high-voltage pouch cell configurations with operating range of -20°C to 60°C.
- Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) In-house SMT PCBA service offering design, assembly, and testing with pick-and-place up to 50,000 components per hour via two Fuji AIMEX IIIc machines, pre- and post-reflow AOI (Omron), 9-zone reflow (Heller 1809 MK5), and selective soldering. Supports up to 250 unique part numbers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1000+ cycle life with only 11% degradation achieved with Lockheed Martin
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use Packet Digital
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Packet Digital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability5 records
Feature9 records
Packet Digital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Wellspring HydrocorePartnership with LibertyStream and Wellspring Hydro to collaborate on lithium carbonate sourcing from oilfield brine (water co-produced during oil recovery) for Packet Digital's battery cell manufacturing facility. Wellspring provides data on quality and scalability of lithium recovery from North Dakota brine sources.
- LibertyStreamcoreMOU signed November 2025 for U.S. lithium carbonate supply supporting cathode material production for next-gen battery and power systems in military and industrial applications. Partnership involves technical data sharing to establish a domestically sourced, scalable lithium production operation.
- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)coreCollaboration to develop power management for extended endurance, portable, hand-launchable solar-soaring UAS. NRL provided expertise in advanced optoelectronics/photovoltaics and thermal soaring algorithms. Test flights at Aberdeen Proving Ground and Cape Canaveral achieved 11-hour flights from sunrise to sunset.
- AndurilmajorContracted to manufacture batteries for Ghost VTOL Group 2 sUAS. Packet Digital manufacturing capabilities were essential to tackle highly challenging build and resolve critical supply chain issues through collaboration with top component providers.
- Lockheed MartinmajorContracted to design and manufacture batteries for Indago 4 UAS platform. Lockheed Martin reported achieving 1000 cycles with only 11% degradation - '10X better than anything we have ever seen.'
- North Dakota UniversitiesminorPartnership with universities for innovative approach to produce lithium-ion batteries with raw materials localization and for research collaboration including senior design projects.
Scale indicators18 records
Recent moves9 records
Packet Digital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ultralife Corporation: Designs and manufactures military batteries, chargers, and communications systems for U.S. and allied defense customers. Direct competitor in defense-grade smart battery packs with established DoD supply relationships.
- EaglePicher Technologies: U.S. defense and aerospace battery manufacturer with broad portfolio spanning lithium-ion, thermal, and silver-zinc chemistries. Direct competitor in defense/aerospace power systems serving primes and government agencies.
- Bren-Tronics: Leading U.S. manufacturer of military battery packs and chargers for defense applications, including unmanned systems. Direct competitor in defense smart batteries with deep DoD relationships and similar NDAA-compliant positioning.
- Inventus Power: Custom battery pack manufacturer serving industrial, medical, and defense markets with lithium-ion and related chemistries. Comparable in custom pack design, BMS integration, and serving OEM customers with mission-critical applications.
- Galvion: Defense power and soldier systems company producing batteries, chargers, and power management for military UAS, ground robots, and dismounted soldier applications. Direct peer in integrated UAS power solutions for defense customers.
Broad incumbents
- BAE Systems Electronic Systems: Major defense prime with significant power and energy management capabilities including batteries and power electronics for aerospace platforms. Competes broadly in defense power systems but not specialized in the UAS battery niche.
- EnerSys: Global industrial battery leader with a defense and aerospace segment producing lithium-ion and other chemistries for military and aerospace applications. Broader portfolio and scale make it an incumbent rather than direct UAS-focused peer.
- Honeywell Aerospace: Diversified aerospace and defense prime with internal battery and power management capabilities for aviation and space platforms. Incumbent supplier to many of the same defense customers Packet Digital serves.
Emerging players
- Amprius Technologies: Silicon anode lithium-ion battery maker with defense and UAS applications. Comparable advanced Li-ion technology focus with some defense customer overlap, but smaller scale and earlier commercial stage than Packet Digital.
Regional players
- Maxell: Japanese battery manufacturer with a strong position in industrial and specialty lithium batteries including UAS applications. Comparable in Li-ion smart battery technology but geographically focused on Asia rather than the U.S. defense market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Packet Digital social profiles
Digital presencePacket Digital compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Packet Digital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Packet Digital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Packet Digital subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Packet Digital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Packet Digital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Packet Digital
What does Packet Digital do?
Packet Digital designs, manufactures, assembles, and tests high-performance smart lithium-ion battery packs, battery cells, battery management systems (BMS), Maximum Power Point Trackers (MPPT), and Power Distribution Boards (PDB) for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), defense platforms, and small-satellite applications. The company operates vertically integrated domestic manufacturing through its 25,000-square-foot 7A assembly facility and 80,000-square-foot Badland Batteries cell plant in Fargo, North Dakota, producing NDAA-compliant batteries and power electronics.
Is Packet Digital a public or private company?
Packet Digital is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Packet Digital founded?
Packet Digital was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Packet Digital based?
Packet Digital is headquartered in Hazelton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Packet Digital make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Custom Battery Design and Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are commercial Battery Products, defense Government Contracts, power Electronics (MPPT, PMAD) and PCB Assembly Services.
Who are Packet Digital's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ultralife Corporation, EaglePicher Technologies, Bren-Tronics, Inventus Power and Galvion. Broad incumbents are BAE Systems Electronic Systems, EnerSys and Honeywell Aerospace. Amprius Technologies is listed as an emerging player. Maxell is listed as a regional player.
Does Packet Digital have an API?
No public API is recorded for Packet Digital.
What industry is Packet Digital in?
Packet Digital's product category is UAS Battery Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAFABAI, Battery Pack Manufacturing & Module Assembly, with a secondary code of IMAGAHAA, Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH). Its NAICS code is 33591 and its SIC code is 3600.