The US Navy has awarded a new contract to General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) for the development of advanced, high energy density capacitors.
The deal has been awarded by the navy through the Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium (DOTC) and the capacitors will be used in high-power microwave (HPM) weapon systems.
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GA-EMS will use advanced technologies to develop new high energy density capacitors as part of the arrangement, which are intended to facilitate the deployment of HPM systems on smaller, tactically relevant navy platforms.
GA-EMS Missile Defense and Space Systems vice-president Nick Bucci said: “This award is an exciting opportunity for us to capitalise on the advances we’ve made in engineering and manufacturing compact, high-energy capacitors for railgun pulsed power applications, and apply those innovations to create capacitors for emerging HPM weapon systems.
“Our new materials and manufacturing technologies and techniques will help shape future capacitor capabilities to meet the necessary power output and reduced package size required for next-generation platforms.”
The company is primarily engaged in the research, development and demonstration of high energy density capacitor technologies.
The solutions are expected to enable the design of more powerful, compact systems for a large number of latest land and sea based platforms, as well as directed energy applications.
GA-EMS previously received a contract to develop and supply advanced, high energy density capacitors for integration into a non-lethal pre-emplaced vehicle stopper (PEVS) system last month.
The contract was awarded by the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate (JNLWD) via the US Department of Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium (DOTC).
