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Several programs are currently
underway in the USA to support Land warrior and Future Force
Warrior programs with durable, long-lasting supply of electrical
power. Several concepts are pursued, including lithium-manganese dioxide "pouches",
which could replace current batteries.
Both primary and rechargeable power
systems are considered. The primary pouch
battery will consist of a five-cell, 15-volt lithium-manganese dioxide
prismatic battery weighing 4.5 lbs., small enough to fit into a
standard army canvas pouch. Cells are contained in thin, light,
flexible laminated aluminum pouches, replacing the bulky, heavier
steel cans typically used for lithium cells. The rechargeable
battery set will be used for training and when operational
conditions enable regular recharging. The rechargeable
polymer battery will consist lighter, eight-cell 15-volt package weighing only
3.5 lbs.
The system operating time for the primary batteries approaches 20
hours, significantly more than earlier competitive batteries which
only lasted 2.5 hours. These batteries also offer the Army many
additional benefits including the ability to operate safely over a
wide range of temperatures, flat voltage profile, light weight,
compact design and are more environmentally friendly than other
batteries previously used.
Ultralife's proposed power solution
for Land Warrior consists of lithium
pouch cells, with lithium anode and manganese dioxide cathode
electrodes folded in a flat, or prismatic, configuration and
sealed in thin, lightweight laminated aluminum foil pouches. The
combination of Li-Mn02 chemistry in a volume and cost efficient
pouch configuration resulted in a power source with almost twice
the energy of cylindrical-cell lithium sulfur-dioxide batteries
currently used by military forces. The Pouch battery manufacturing technology developed
during this program will use flexible manufacturing techniques to
support the production of various cell sizes and battery
configurations. The battery configurations that will be produced
to prove out the results of the program are the BA-7590, BA-7847,
Land Warrior and CSEL Radio batteries. The BA-7590 and BA-7847
Li-Mn02 Pouch batteries are intended to replace two of the most
widely used lithium-sulfur dioxide batteries currently in use by
the Defense Department. In February 2004 Ultralife won a $2.7
million development contract from General Dynamics, to develop and
produce lithium primary and lithium-ion rechargeable batteries,
and vehicle and soldier based chargers for the
Land-Warrior Stryker
Interoperable (LW-SI) program. Initial deliveries are expected
by January 2005.
In early January 2006 Ultralife
Batteries announced a new 1.7 million contract to supply General
Dynamics C4 Systems with lithium ion rechargeable batteries and
chargers developed under the previously announced program. The new
batteries and chargers are destined for the Stryker Land Warrior
Interoperability evaluation. The systems will be used as part of
vehicle mounted kits and individual soldier-based chargers. The
Stryker Interoperable portion of the Land Warrior program is
scheduled for operational assessment and a Limited User Test in
the summer of 2006. The products selected for the program include
Ultralife’s UBBL06 (LI-145) Rechargeable battery, a lightweight,
rugged, high-energy 16.8 volt, 9.4 Ah lithium ion rechargeable
SMBus v1.1 compliant smart battery with a state-of-charge
indicator. Recharging will be provided by CH0006 3-Bay Vehicle
Based Charger, a rugged, smart Level-3 charger mounted in
different variants of the Stryker Vehicle. An alternative charger
is the CH0008 Individual Soldier Based Charger Kit, which is a
rugged smart Level-2 charger with global input voltage and
frequency capability. The 12-Bay Bulk Charger Kit will also be
supplied, facilitating rechargino of up to 12 batteries
simultaneously in the field, from vehicles or in depot via AC and
DC power source. The 12 bay system will utilize the rugged CH0017
smart Level-3 charger.
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