Posted to News on 12th Sep 2009, 00:00
Li-ion batteries power the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
Saft is currently delivering the 28V and 270V lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries that will power the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) through phases I, II and III of its LRIP (Low Rate Initial Production) programme. In 2002 Saft America competed on the initial System Design and Development (SDD) Phase of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Electrical Power Management System (EPMS). Saft was awarded contracts for the 28V batteries that provide start-up power for the APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) and the 270V batteries that provide back-up power to operate the flight control surfaces.
The initial JSF 28V Battery was derived from the very successful F-22 Raptor Programme, using Saft's Aircraft Maintenance Free Battery (AMFB) nickel-cadmium.
(Ni-Cd) technology. The AMFB 28V Battery carried the programme successfully through the aircraft's first flight in December 2006. To help reduce the aircraft weight Saft proposed a high power 28V Li-ion battery, and this battery was used to fulfill the SDD phase of the programme. The Li-ion deployment began in late 2004 and continues into the LRIP phases.
The 270V JSF Battery was specifically custom designed and manufactured to meet the exacting needs of the JSF application. It is a very high power 270 V Li-ion battery that has fulfilled the needs of the aircraft beginning with the SDD phase and continuing into the LRIP phase.
"The F-35 Lightning II project is an important breakthrough for Saft as it is the first time that a fighter aircraft has relied on Li-ion batteries to support mission critical roles," says Bruce McRae, Saft Aviation North America sales and marketing Director. "The successful deployment of the Li-ion technology is also a perfect example of Saft's flexible approach that enables us to develop innovative solutions to respond to a customer's changing design requirements." Saft completed the SDD phase of the JSF programme in 2008 and has been awarded orders for the 28 V and 270 V Li-ion batteries for the LRIP I, II and III phases. Initial delivery of the LRIP batteries began in 2009.
