Advanced Power Storage Systems for Interceptors

LithChem Energy (LCE) has developed a very high power (>12,000 W/kg) reserve battery for use in interceptor missiles such as the SM3-IIB where weight (power density) is very critical. This battery can be 100% checked and cycled before actual mission use to ensure 100% reliability and can be turned on before launch. The LCE reserve battery (cell voltage 3.6 V) performs in the normal ambient temperature range of standard rechargeable lithium batteries without needing high temperature for performance as the currently used thermal reserve batteries. In this proposed program, LCE will develop improved charge/ discharge cycling at 100% depth of discharge for this new battery chemistry from about 100 cycles to 500 cycles, maintain the power density and at the same time significantly increase the energy density of this battery. This will further increase the performance capabilities of this reserve battery from about 90 Wh/kg to possibly 200 Wh/kg while maintaining the power density to>12,000 W/kg. Cell packs of the improved version will be made on an automated cell pack assembly line built by LCE for lower cost and high reliability battery batteries. The overall goal is to develop the most powerful (lightest weight) all purpose reserve missile battery.