The U.S Defense Department’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) awarded Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI) a contract to develop and deliver a prototype family of Small Tactical Universal Batteries (STUB). The delivery of the STUB prototype is part of the DIU Family of Advanced Standard Batteries (FAStBat) initiative, one of the Army’s latest approaches to develop a standard family of batteries.
A standard family of batteries is needed to help reduce the service’s logistical burden and simplify the number of batteries that operational units must carry to power network and other systems. The STUB batteries have an innovative common USB-C Power Delivery (PD) interface and higher capacity NanoGraf cells, which facilitates battery charging by leveraging COTS chargers and reduces battery type inventories required throughout the Joint Services. TDSI’s focus will be on making the STUB batteries a successful program by focusing on key performance areas of thermal, power conversion efficiency, and ultra-low electromagnetic emissions, in order to meet stringent and demanding radio receive and transmit requirements.
The contract, awarded by Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), is one of the many efforts aiming to accelerate the adoption of leading commercial technology throughout the military. DIU’s FAStBat initiative helps meet the National Blueprint for Lithium Batteries 2021-2030 objective to develop form-fit-function battery standards for defense, electric vehicles, and grid applications as well as a 2030 objective to meet critical defense battery demand.
As part of the DIU contract order, TDSI will build hundreds of prototype batteries by 2025, using design, manufacturing and test processes already employed to support the AN/PRC-148 radio family of batteries.
“With expertise spanning more than 60 years, Thales Defense & Security, Inc. is a global leader in the development and manufacture of combat-proven, tactical communications equipment including batteries and chargers. We have successfully delivered over 300,000 integrated handheld radios and over 1,000,000 batteries to the Department of Defense (DOD). We are proud to have been awarded this contract by DIU and are certain this strong partnership will continue.”
Mike Sheehan, President & CEO, Thales Defense & Security, Inc.
TDSI’s extensive experience and knowledge in radio and battery design throughout decades gives the company a strong advantage in STUB battery design and delivery. The TDSI effort will pave the way for STUB batteries to benefit soldiers, the acquisition community, and the personal logistics community, allowing them to focus on their missions.
