Self-Heating Group Ration

U.S. Army staff at the Natick Soldier Center have developed a single-use self-heating group ration, the Unitized Group Ration – Express (UGR-E). This unique kitchen-in-a-box can provide soldiers with a hot meal when operational tempo makes the standard Unitized Group Ration impractical. Prototypes of the UGR-E have used older heater technology that produces flammable hydrogen gas; the large size of the UGR-E demands a safer heater. TDA Research, Inc. (TDA) has developed self-heating technology that does not produce hydrogen. In Phase I TDA and our partners successfully demonstrated that our heater can raise the temperature of a six-pound food tray from 40°F to 140°F in less than 45 minutes. Analysis showed that our UGR E heater will be safe to manufacture, transport, use and dispose of, and can be manufactured at an attractive cost. The UGR-E with TDA’s technology can be widely adopted by the Army, leading to improved logistics in field feeding and significant cost savings. In Phase II, we will complete development, working to assure reliable performance and safety while minimizing weight, volume and cost. We will prepare and test prototypes, and will provide prototypes to the Army for technical evaluation and a field test.