MINNEAPOLIS and HENDERSON, Nev.---ATK (Alliant Techsystems) today announced that ATK/Valence Alliance, a joint venture between ATK Power Sources and Valence Technology, Inc., has received US Navy limited approval to test large size lithium-ion polymer batteries in US Navy underwater vehicles.
This is a continuation of Commercial Off-The-Shelf Technology Insertion, COSSI, program started under a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contract in 1997 and will lead to the widespread acceptance of this technology for expanded use by the US Navy.
Managed by the US Navy Deep Submergence Program Office, this follow-on testing is the next phase of the demonstration program to allow the US Navy to replace the current silver-zinc battery with a longer cycle life battery. This longer life lithium-ion polymer battery will result in lower life-cycle cost by the user community.
Mark Giesie, president, ATK Power Sources Company, said the unique capabilities and properties of lithium ion polymer batteries make them ideally suited for demanding mission required by the numerous platforms of the US Navy. "These powerful and lightweight batteries have a number of demonstrated advantages over traditional silver-zinc and lead acid batteries currently in operation,'' said Giesie. "They have a longer cycle life and calendar life compared to silver zinc and offer significantly higher energy density over the lead acid batteries. Since the lithium-ion polymer batteries do not out-gas, this eliminates a major consideration for use aboard manned submersibles.''
"The use of Valence's battery modules is the first step in having the underwater vehicle market, both military, and commercial oceanographic, realize the advantages of the lithium polymer technology over current power solutions,'' said Lev Dawson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This type of battery will allow the military and commercial market to realize the advantages of current technology in an application that benefits many types of users.''
These types of batteries can be easily configured to meet the numerous types of missions currently being pursued by the US Navy underwater community and allow for the introduction to new applications currently in development.
ATK/Valence, LLC is a joint venture between ATK Power Sources Company, Horsham, Pa., and Valence Technology, Inc., Henderson, Nev., that develops and manufactures advanced rechargeable solid lithium ion polymer batteries for the U.S. and international military and aerospace markets.
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ATK and Valence Technology To Test Large-Size Lithium Polymer Batteries in US Navy Underwater Vehicles
