Breaking news
PowerFilm to provide lightweight solar panels to the US Army 40504162.
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Defence & Security News - (USA)
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| PowerFilm to provide lightweight solar panels to the US Army 40504162 | |||
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PowerFilm Inc. has been contracted by the United States Army and Thales Defence & Security Inc. (TDSI) as a provider of lightweight solar panels, to charge soldiers’ batteries in remote areas, without an access to the commercial grid.
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 The FM16-7200 120W solar panel weighs 2.95 kg. (Photo: PowerFilm Solar) |
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Modern soldiers have an increased requirement for energy sources to power up their electronic devices, such as their NVGs, GPS receivers, smartphones, red dots and radios. While these offer an advantage against an opponent, they require different type of batteries, which need to be recharged. Therefore, the tactical advantage relies on the soldier’s capability to carry the extra weight and recharge the batteries. The US Army has been using the Thales Universal Battery Charger and with the latest contract it will add PowerFilm’s lightweight 120 Watt, foldable solar panel as the charger’s primary accessory. It can supply energy to the UBC, powering up a squad’s or platoon’s electronic systems for at least 72 hours, in off the grid areas. The solar panel was selected after rigorous and lengthy testing. Being lightweight was one of the key characteristics, allowing the soldiers to carry it into their rucksacks and deploy it during halts. PowerFilm Inc. has been a supplier to the US Army for more than a decade, providing solar panels in various sizes. |
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