A Breakthrough in Thermal Battery Performance - Expanding the Envelope to Multi-HOUR Missile/Aircraft Missions

Northrop Grumman, ASW and Ship Systems has pioneered a new thermal battery chemistry that combines high power and high energy density with multi-hour life capability. A large sonobuoy thermal battery with three hours of active life has been demonstrated and efforts are underway to extend life to four hours.

Northrop Grumman believes this technology is ideally suited to weight and volume critical missile and aircraft applications. Recently, we tested a 28.5 lb., nominal 28 volt, 28 Ah battery designed to demonstrate the capability of a large thermal battery to provide prime power for missiles.

Features of our thermal battery chemistry and computer design capability will be described. Performance of these large, multi-hour thermal batteries will be presented to illustrate their applicability to airborne applications.