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Sparkz and Global Ordnance Announce $100 Million Midwest Defense Battery Manufacturing Investment, Creating 355 American Jobs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Partnership will establish a fully domestic battery supply chain for drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base and eliminating reliance on foreign suppliers. 

SACRAMENTO, CA, NOVEMBER 2, 2026 – Sparkz, a U.S. battery technology and manufacturing company, today announced plans to establish a dedicated defense battery manufacturing operation in the Midwest in partnership with Global Ordnance. The $100 million project investment is expected to create approximately 355 full-time American jobs including 180 direct manufacturing jobs and 175 spillover jobs and establish a fully domestic battery supply chain supporting drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and other critical defense applications. 

The project represents a significant investment in American manufacturing capacity and national security in alignment with the Trump administration’s implementation of several executive actions, tariffs, and regulatory measures to boost U.S. domestic drone manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains, particularly from China. As drones and unmanned systems become increasingly critical to modern defense operations, access to high-performance, domestically manufactured batteries is a strategic priority. Through this partnership, Sparkz and Global Ordnance will bring critical battery manufacturing capabilities to the Midwest, establishing a secure, fully domestic supply chain for the batteries powering next-generation unmanned defense systems. 

By expanding U.S. production and reducing reliance on overseas manufacturing, particularly from China, the partnership will strengthen the resilience of the American defense industrial base while bringing skilled manufacturing jobs back to the United States. The $100 million project investment is expected to generate approximately 355 full-time jobs, with additional economic benefits through construction, equipment, logistics, and local supplier networks. 

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening American manufacturing, securing critical supply chains, and ensuring that the technologies supporting America’s defense capabilities can be produced at home. 

Additional details regarding the facility’s location, development timeline, and production plans will be announced as the project advances. 

“This is about rebuilding America’s battery manufacturing capabilities and ensuring our defense industrial base has access to the critical technologies it needs,” said Dr. Sanjiv Malhotra, Founder and CEO of Sparkz. “With a $100 million project investment and approximately 355 American jobs, we are making a substantial commitment to domestic manufacturing. Our partnership with Global Ordnance will help establish a fully domestic battery supply chain for drones and UAVs, reducing our dependence on foreign suppliers and strengthening America’s national security.” 

Global Ordnance brings defense contracting, regulatory compliance, and systems integration experience to the effort, helping move Sparkz batteries into U.S. and allied unmanned systems programs. The partnership builds on the companies’ collaboration to supply American-made, NDAA-compliant battery solutions for drones and UAVs. 

“Securing reliable American sources for critical defense components is essential to strengthening our national security,” said Jeff Brunozzi, President of Global Ordnance. “Our partnership with Sparkz will expand the domestic manufacturing base, create hundreds of American jobs, and help ensure that the batteries powering tomorrow’s unmanned defense systems are made in the United States.” 

About Sparkz 

Sparkz is an American battery technology and manufacturing company focused on building a vertically integrated domestic lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery supply chain. Sparkz develops and manufactures advanced battery materials, cells, and battery systems for commercial, industrial, energy storage, and defense applications. The company is committed to strengthening American manufacturing, reducing dependence on foreign supply chains, and delivering reliable, domestically produced battery technology. 

About Global Ordnance 

Global Ordnance is a veteran-owned defense company headquartered in Tampa, Florida, with offices in three countries, serving U.S. and allied defense markets since 2013. The company supplies U.S.-standard and non-standard ammunition, weapons, energetics, and platforms to military, government, and law enforcement customers worldwide. Global Ordnance also integrates unmanned and counter-unmanned systems, including lethal payloads, working with industry partners to field drone capability for U.S. and allied forces. Built on long-standing relationships with allied governments and a global network of manufacturers, Global Ordnance delivers mission-critical capability where and when its customers need it. 

PRESS CONTACTS:  

Michelle Bandur

Sparkz VP, Marketing and Communications

279-208-4672

michelle@sparkz.energy

Abby Rodriguez

Sparkz VP, Corporate Development

202-743-3831

abby@sparkz.energy

Margit DeMarco

Global Ordnance, Director of Marketing

941-431-7505

Margit.DeMarco@globalordnance.com

Founder & CEO

Dr. Sanjiv Malhotra

Dr. Sanjiv Malhotra is the founder and CEO of Sparkz—the battery start-up reinventing the energy supply chain.

 

Malhotra has been a leader in the energy sector for nearly three decades as a founder, investor and executive. Most recently, he served as the inaugural director for the Energy Investor Center at the U.S Department of Energy (DOE), serving under both Democratic and Republican administrations.

 

At DOE, Malhotra led the Obama Administration’s initiative to boost public-private partnerships to accelerate the commercialization of technologies developed in national research centers like Oak Ridge National Labs.

 

Malhotra was recruited to the Department of Energy after a successful exit of Oorja Protonics—the world leader in methanol fuel cells—which he founded and led as CEO for 10 years. Oorja raised $50 Million in equity financing from leading VCs such as Sequoia, DAG Ventures, Artis Capital and others during his tenure. He boosted Oorja’s revenue and profitability growth, while expanding operations globally in Japan, China, South Africa, Mexico, and India.

 

Oorja was acquired in 2014 by the Private Equity firm MinXing Growth Fund.

 

As an investor and consultant, Malhotra has worked at leading venture capital firms, including Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers as an advisor on clean energy and advanced materials.

 

Earlier in his career, Malhotra led the engineering and product development team at H Power, a pioneer in hydrogen fuel cells. As part of the management team, he managed the successful IPO, which raised more than $100 million in August 2000.

 

He began his career as a post-doctoral fellow at the renowned Lawrence Berkeley National Labs on electrochemical storage systems. Dr. Malhotra has authored seven patents and more than 40 publications in various fields of energy storage technology and materials. He holds a PhD in chemical engineering and an M.B.A from University of Iowa.