Arotech Corp. (New York) announced that its Battery and Power Systems Division has received a new research and development contract from the US Army Communications and Electronics Command (CECOM). The three-phase program will focus on developing a new, fourth-generation electric fuel zinc-air cell for use in military batteries.
The new portable zinc-air battery pack will be 12 V or 24 V and will have a total capacity of approximately 400 Wh. Battery energy density will be above 300 Wh/kg. The second and third phases of the program are optional. The research program is aimed at the Future Force Warrior project - the US Army's flagship Science and Technology initiative to develop and demonstrate revolutionary capabilities for Future Force soldier systems.
The third-generation cells now in production for the electric fuel BA-8180/U military zinc-air battery are mono-cells (single-air cathode) with plastic casing encapsulating the anodic zinc reactant. The new fourth-generation bi-cell (dual-air cathode) will utilize a folded-air cathode without plastic casing material, increasing the respective energy density. The power density is expected to double.
