DIU awards companies to prototype 'standard aviation batteries' in line with DOD's lithium battery strengthening initiative

By Georgina DiNardo  / December 13, 2023

The Defense Innovation Unit awarded contracts to five companies to prototype standard aviation batteries to combat energy source needs through the Defense Department's Family of Advanced Standard Batteries (FAStBat) project, which integrates commercially available lithium battery technologies across the Pentagon.

The FAStBat project attempts to strengthen DOD’s energy supply chains, solve source dependency challenges and improve lithium battery life cycle through partnerships across the DOD and service branches that will implement commercial technology into DOD soldier-portable systems, ground vehicles and aviation.

DIU is partnering with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center and Ground Vehicle Systems Center and the Navy's Operational Energy and Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division to achieve this goal.

NanoGraf, EXO Charge, Enersys, Teledyne Technologies and Bren-Tronics have been awarded contracts for unspecified amounts to work on prototyping for aviation batteries that will “address power needs, cost and redundancy in helicopters and fighter jets,” according to a DIU press release.

NanoGraf will use North American production lines to produce “novel silicon anode material” for their “high-energy, rugged and scalable 18560 cell design” prototype designed to lighten the warfighter’s load.

EXO Charge, part of Xentris Wireless, will prototype the Small Tactical Universal Battery (STUB) which gives warfighters the ability to transfer power from one battery to another or switch batteries between devices.

Enersys will prototype a high-energy Li6T battery based off their existing “commercial prismatic lithium-ion cell chemistry and proven DOD-Space 18650 cell designs” which will be altered for DOD integration.

Teledyne Technologies will use their cell cooling technology, designed for the batteries' highest safety and longest life cycle, to prototype Common Affordable and Safe Energy Storage (CASES) batteries which will be provide the DOD with “enhanced capabilities for strike, air superiority, ISR and countermeasure missions.”

Bren-Tronics, Inc., in collaboration with DIU, will use “high-capacity, safety-tested cells” to create and manufacture rechargeable battery packs that can power “communications equipment, sensors, surveillance equipment, thermal imagers and robotic systems critical to tactical missions.”

All of the companies will use North American manufacturers to increase domestic supply chain safety and support U.S. production.

“These investments are targeted at meeting the department’s largest battery demand needs,” said Eric Shields, senior battery adviser for industrial base policy at the office of the defense under secretary for acquisition and sustainment. “Not only will FAStBat accelerate the adoption of domestic commercial technologies by DOD Programs of Record, but these formats will also be foundational as we build interoperable solutions with our allies and partners.”

Earlier this year, DIU awarded the first 10 FAStBat contracts in an effort to make batteries lighter, safer and have a longer life span for warfighters.

Laurence Toomey, branch chief at the Army combat capabilities development command, ground vehicle systems center, said in the press release that FAStBat is also awarding contracts to companies to prototype a lithium version of the 6T battery that powers 80-90% of ground vehicles, although specifics have not been released yet.

The National Blueprint for Lithium Batteries 2021-2030 sets a 2030 objective to “meet critical defense battery demand with multiple-source domestic supplies,” DIU’s press release states that the FAStBat project is on track to help meet the criteria listed in the effort.

“By 2027, DIU anticipates FAStBat will support full North American production of 18650 cells for the common family of military batteries supporting warfighters,” the press release said.