Thermal reserve batteries are an important necessary component for the proper function and optimum performance of guided missiles, many munitions systems, rockets, and other military systems requiring instant high power after a long period of storage. The technology and performance for these difficult, expensive, hand made batteries has not changed appreciably in 20 years. LithChem (Toxco) has developed a new safe, primary prismatic lithium reserve cell/battery (non-thermal) which has 8 times the power density (4 kW/kg) and twice the energy density (120 Wh/kg) over the current reserve batteries. This new LithChem cell operates at 4.3 V compared to the 1.5 V of the current reserve battery cells providing additional savings in space and weight and also has long term storability. Not only are these performance features a major advance for reserve batteries, but these new LithChem cells will have a much lower unit cost with increased reliability due to a unique automated cell manufacturing process. In this program, LithChem will work with Lockheed-Martin to develop this new battery for the Multiple Kill Vehicle as a first application and demonstration of this major improvement in reserve batteries for the Missile Defense Agency.
Keywords: Thermal Reserve Battery, Prismatic, Primary Lithium Battery, Mkv, High Power, Battery Cell, Lithium, Missile Battery
