Today's military equipment is required to operate in extreme conditions: dry/hot deserts, humid tropical jungles and frigid arctic locations. The equipment has also become increasingly powerful and sophisticated – and absolutely must perform reliably under all conditions. High rate capability, light weight, more power per unit volume, no voltage delay even after long storage periods, operation in a wide range of temperatures, long storage life, and safety have made Ultralife lithium batteries the logical choice for military organizations and OEMs worldwide.
We have worked closely with prime contractors and Departments of Defense from around the world to offer a comprehensive line of safe, high-performance lithium batteries capable of supporting a variety of military applications including: communications, thermal imaging, night vision, surveillance, targeting, chemical detection, search & rescue, undersea mines and many others.
Safer Lithium-Manganese Dioxide Battery Technology
The future of lithium battery technology lies in Lithium-Manganese Dioxide (Li-MnO2), a solid-cathode chemistry. Unlike both Lithium-Sulfur Dioxide (Li-SO2) and Lithium-Thionyl Chloride (Li-SOCl2), which are liquid-cathode chemistries, Li-MnO2 does not suffer from the effects of passivation. Passivation causes liquid-cathode batteries to suffer from voltage delays, meaning cell voltage will be depressed when a load is applied, particularly after extended periods of storage with no use. This condition is exacerbated at low temperatures resulting in the possibility that a liquid cathode battery may not start up when called into use. Li-MnO2 batteries, which are inherently safer than the other types of lithium batteries, do not suffer from voltage delays.
Because of a number of incidents resulting in soldier injuries, and the possible venting of toxic sulfur dioxide gas, the Li-SO2 battery chemistry is losing favor for military applications and is starting to be replaced by Li-MnO2 batteries.
Applications Advantaged by Ultralife Batteries
- Communications, imaging, surveillance, targeting, chemical detection, search & rescue, undersea mines and many others. See a sampling of specific applications below:
- Ptarmigan
- Clansman
- Cougar
- SINCGARS
- SEM 70 radio
- RASAT
- Stonefish
- SCAD200
- AN/AVS-9 night vision goggles
- ColproCAM chemical agent monitor
- AN/PRC-119 SINCGARS
- AN/PRC-112
- AN/PRC-90 survival radios
- Special Forces applications
Ultralife Batteries for Military Applications
