Li-ion batteries power US Army's weapon systems

Saft has delivered its 300th advanced lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery pack to provide battlefield power for US Army weapon systems.

Saft has delivered its 300th advanced lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery pack to provide battlefield power for the US Army's Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-guided Missile (TOW) Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS), designed and produced by Raytheon Network Centric Systems.

The rechargeable 28V battery packs, based on Saft high energy VLE series cylindrical cells and incorporating electronic control systems and health monitoring software, are deployed widely in US Army missions such as 'Operation Enduring Freedom'.

ITAS is the advanced fire control system that guides TOW weapon systems to their targets with surgical precision while its second generation Forward Looking Infrared Sensor also provides a long-range reconnaissance and surveillance capability for light infantry in all battlefield conditions.

The ITAS consists of an integrated day/night sight with laser rangefinder target acquisition subsystem, fire control subsystem and modified traversing unit.

It operates from the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) and the dismounted tripod platform.

Battlefield power for the ITAS is provided by a portable 28V battery pack, and as part of a general systems upgrade Raytheon switched to Saft's Li-ion batteries because they provide high power performance over a wide range of temperatures, and are easily customisable to suit Raytheon's design.

Furthermore, Saft is the only qualified supplier of a Li-ion battery to replace the legacy silver-zinc battery.

The Saft battery pack is providing significantly reduced maintenance, longer run-time and a longer overall life compared with the legacy battery.

Saft supplies the ITAS batteries to Raytheon as a complete pack, ready to plug and go, comprising VLE cylindrical Li-ion cells configured to provide a nominal 80Ah capacity at +21C.

The cells are housed in a robust, pressure compensated box with carry handles, burst prevention mechanism and keyed connectors, and in recognition of the wide range of conditions that ITAS might be deployed in, the box can be operated even when wearing arctic gloves.

The box also incorporates on-board electronics to ensure enhanced battery performance and current protection as well as providing thermal and safety management systems.

Saft has developed a special software package for use with the ITAS battery pack that enables it to interface with a PC to provide a direct readout of the battery condition.

This enables the operator to run a suite of health checks on key criteria such as individual cell voltages, enabling accurate prediction of battery life, so the pack can be swapped and recharged before it reaches a critical level.

"The reliability and dependability of our Li-ion batteries, as well as their advanced technologies, make them ideal for battlefield situations", said David Roller, Saft's Director of Defence Sales in North America.

"Our batteries are trusted by soldiers because they are superior products that have earned that trust".

Saft VLE series cylindrical Li-ion cells are ideal for military applications because they offer high power, high energy density and are virtually maintenance free over a long projected calendar life.

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