SAE JA1016 Establishes Common Specifications for Lithium-Ion Pouch Cells for
Small Uncrewed Systems in both Ground and Aerial Applications

WARRENDALE, Pa. (June 25, 2026) - SAE International^® a global leader in advancing mobility standards, has published a new Technical Information Report (TIR), SAE JA1016™, Performance and Dimensional Specification for Lithium-Ion Pouch Cells for Group 1 Small Uncrewed Aerial Systems (sUAS). The TIR establishes the industry's first standardized framework for battery cell dimensions, performance characterization, safety verification, and manufacturer reporting for Group 1 sUAS applications in both ground and aerial applications.

As electrification expands across aerospace, defense, automotive, and industrial sectors, varied battery cell geometries, qualification methods, and reporting practices have increased development costs, extended qualification timelines, and limited supply-chain flexibility. SAE JA1016 addresses these challenges by providing a common framework for evaluating, qualifying, and integrating lithium-ion pouch cells.

"SAE JA1016 represents an important step toward a more resilient, scalable, and cost-effective Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS)," said Christian Thiele, Sr. Director, Global Ground Vehicle Standards at SAE International. "By establishing a recommended approach for lithium-ion pouch cell testing, reporting, and interoperability, this standard helps manufacturers streamline product qualification, improve supply chain flexibility, and safely accelerate advanced battery technologies across commercial and defense applications."

"The battery industry has long operated with a fragmented set of cell geometries, inconsistent test methodologies, and incompatible data formats," said Jeff Yambrick, Chair of the SAE Battery Cell Size Standardization Committee. "This standard establishes a unified framework for cell dimensions, performance characterization, safety verification, and manufacturer reporting. It gives integrators a common technical language, a repeatable basis for qualification, and a clearer path to multi-source supply chains."

Developed by the SAE Battery Cell Size Standardization Committee, JA1016 establishes common design parameters, standardized validation methods, and consistent manufacturer reporting for battery performance, safety, and dimensions. Together, these specifications reduce qualification complexity, improve interoperability, and support more resilient, multi-source supply chains for the growing sUAS industry.

In addition to defining standardized dimensions, JA1016 introduces common validation methods for capacity verification, cycle life, discharge performance, thermal response, and safety testing. It also standardizes manufacturer specification sheets, providing consistent reporting of electrical, thermal, and mechanical characteristics that can be directly incorporated into engineering models, procurement processes, and qualification programs.

The committee's work also establishes a framework that supports compatibility across multiple battery architectures, enabling manufacturers to integrate different cell technologies within common electrical and mechanical interfaces while minimizing redesign of host platforms.

SAE JA1016 supports the growing demand for interoperable battery systems as the sUAS industry continues to mature, providing manufacturers with a standardized approach that reduces redundant qualification efforts while supporting scalable manufacturing and more resilient supply chains.

"When we began the effort more than a year ago to define battery format standards for small UAS, we knew we had an opportunity to create something meaningful. What we didn't anticipate was establishing the industry's first pouch cell dimensional standard and seeing such overwhelming global support from cell manufacturers, pack integrators, and OEMs alike," said Lisa King, Vice Chair of the SAE Battery Cell Size Standardization Committee and Director, Advanced Battery Strategy, LEAP Manufacturing. "The collaboration and commitment shown by SAE and the many industry stakeholders throughout the standards process were truly exceptional, and I'm incredibly grateful for their support."

The JA1016 TIR is available at https://www.sae.org/standards/ja1016_202606-dimensional-performance-testing-specifications-secondary-pouch-cells-group-1-small-uncrewed-aerial-vehicle-s-suav.

Additional details about the development of the TIR are available in a blog post by Jeff Yambrick: https://www.sae.org/news/blog/sae-battery-cell-size-standardization-committee-chair-vice-chair-discuss-new-lithium-ion-cell-standard.

To learn how to more about SAE standards and how to get involved, visit www.sae.org/standards.

About SAE International^®
SAE International^® is a global organization committed to advancing mobility knowledge and solutions for the benefit of humanity. By engaging nearly 200,000 engineers, technical experts and volunteers, we connect and educate mobility professionals to enable safe, clean, and accessible mobility solutions. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including award-winning programs like A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™. More at www.sae.org.

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