Raytheon Selects Saft Li-ion Rechargeable Batteries to Power US Army TOW Missile System
29 May 2007
SAFT'S LI-ION BATTERIES WILL POWER THE SURVEILLANCE, TARGET ACQUISITION AND FIRE-CONTROL SYSTEM
Saft, a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-technology batteries, was awarded a $23.4 million multi-year contract with Raytheon Network Centric Systems (NCS) for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. This contract expands on a previous agreement with Saft to supply battlefield power for the Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided missile (TOW) Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS) used by the US military.
Saft's Li-ion batteries will power the surveillance, target acquisition and fire-control system for the TOW missile. Saft is the sole supplier of Li-ion batteries for Raytheon NCS and began delivering the order in March 2007.
'We look forward to continuing our relationship with Raytheon and supporting products and services critical to our nation's security and defense,' said Jim Miller, General Manager for Saft's Space and Defense Division in North America. 'This contract renewal reinforces the reliability and dependability of our Li-ion batteries and supports growth for our US defense division.'
The rechargeable 28V battery packs, based on Saft's high-energy VLE series cylindrical cells with sophisticated electronic control systems and health monitoring software, are widely deployed in US Army missions. Li-ion batteries were selected to replace silver-zinc batteries because Li-ion provides a longer lifetime and has a lower life cycle cost than other chemistries.
The ITAS program is an upgrade from the current target acquisition and fire-control subsystem, providing better target recognition range and hit performance for the TOW missile. The ITAS provides several enhanced features, including automatic boresighting capability, aided target tracking, embedded training, and many other features that contribute to crew survivability with an increased standoff range and improved battlefield performance. It operates from the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) and the dismounted tripod platform.
Saft has already delivered more than 600 batteries to Raytheon NCS for the ITAS program and will continue production and delivery from Saft's Space and Defense Division based in Cockeysville, MD. For years, Saft has demonstrated its ability to develop and manufacture sophisticated battery design for weapons systems.
ABOUT SAFT VLE CELLS
The light and compact structure of VLE series cylindrical Li-ion cells makes the technology ideal for the mobility demands of the battlefield. The VLE module is suited for applications that require high-energy but have restrictions regarding weight and volume. They are easily customized and are virtually maintenance-free over a long calendar life.
