Army chooses lithium-ion rechargeable batteries from Mathews Associates and Bren-Tronics

U.S. Army leaders needed rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for various uses in the field, such as powering voice and data radios. They found their solution at Mathews Associates Inc. in Sanford, Fla.; and Bren-Tronics Inc. in Commack, N.Y.

U.S. Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime officials in Columbus, Ohio, announced a $23.2 million contract to Mathews and Bren-Tronics for lithium-ion batteries. The two companies will share the contract.

A lithium-ion battery are among the most popular types of rechargeable batteries for portable electronics, with a high energy density, small memory effect, and a slow loss of charge when not in use. Lithium-ion batteries can be tricky to use for military applications because they contain a flammable electrolyte under pressure. Still, their advantages in power density make them popular for systems like the PRC-104, PRC-119, SINCGARS, PRC-138, KY-57, and other military radios.

Among the lithium-ion batteries Mathews offers are the BB-2590/U and BB-2812/U. The 20-volt BB-2590/U, for a variety of military radios, has dual state of charge gauge, a high-impact plastic housing, and hermetically sealed lithium-ion cells.

Bren-Tronics makes a variety of lithium-ion batteries for military applications, including the BT-70483, BT-70492A, and BT-70492BK. The BT-70483 is for handheld radios and thermal imagers. The BT-70492A is for portable thermal cameras, and the BT-70492BK is for portable thermal imagers.

Mathews Associates and Bren- Tronics will do the work in Florida and New York, and should be finished by November 2018.

FOR MORE INFORMATION visit Mathews Associates online at www.maifl.com and Bren-Tronics at www.bren-tronics.com.