The Mississippi State University (MSU) will develop a portable power system to support long endurance military applications. The development is funded by a $1.6 million program awarded by a U.S. Defense Department. MSU established a ‘technology partnership’ with Ultralife (NASDAQ: ULBI) for the development, awarding the company $475,000 contract to participate in this program as a subcontractor.
“Portable fuel cells offer the promise to power battery chargers for soldiers that can effectively extend mission times and reduce a soldier’s carrying weight by allowing use of smaller batteries that are both lighter and last longer,” said John D. Kavazanjian, Ultralife’s president and chief executive officer.
Under this contract Ultralife will oversee the development, testing, approval and manufacturing of prototypes of a new compact military battery to be used with handheld tactical radios, building on its ongoing development work under the Land Warrior System Stryker Interoperable Program. Under the new partnership Ultralife is establishing a development and assembly operation in a 14,000 square-foot facility located in West Point, Mississippi. The company plans to commence operations in the first half of 2008.
