ABSL Selected for Watchkeeper UAV Emergency Battery Pack
06 December 2007 15:43
ABSL Power Solutions Ltd (ABSL) has been selected to provide the emergency backup battery for the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) new Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) programme – WATCHKEEPER – under prime contractor Thales UK with Elbit Systems as a significant part of the Thales team The contract comprises a funded programme to develop and supply production unit battery packs that will provide back up electrical power to the WATCHKEEPER air vehicle, which is based on Elbit Systems' Hermes 450 UAV.
The high-energy, high-power 28.5Ah lithium-ion battery pack will be developed over the forthcoming months, with production commencing at the end of 2008. In emergencies the battery packs will power the avionics and the flight control mechanisms to allow the UAV to be controlled and flown.
ABSL, based in Thurso, UK, was chosen to supply the emergency battery pack due to its long-term relationship with the UK MoD, providing power solutions on other military programmes and its ability to offer the UK MoD security of supply as well as providing a power source that offers compatibility with in-service systems such as the Bowman Battlefield Communications System and the associated charging infrastructures.
ABSL Sales and Marketing Director, Peter Cooper says: "This is a key milestone for ABSL in growing our business from the sea and land unmanned vehicles into the air sector. We will apply our considerable expertise in supplying emergency backup batteries to ensure the system provided for WATCHKEEPER is optimised to allow the highest performance."
ABSL is a key supplier to UK MoD, designing and manufacturing world leading portable power systems in the UK since 2001. The company currently supplies the batteries and chargers for the UK MoD's Bowman Battlefield Communications System, and has global experience in supplying power solutions for remote unmanned systems such as man-transportable robotic systems, which are used in armed, explosive ordnance disposal, perimeter surveillance and chemical detection remotely operated vehicles applications, as well as large autonomous underwater systems used for seabed scanning, mine neutralisation and geological surveying.
For more information on this company:
ABSL Power Solutions - Lithium-Ion Batteries and Advanced Power Solutions
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