Saft Selected As Advanced Li-ion Battery Supplier to LM Team for US Armed Services JLTV Program

Saft, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of advanced technology batteries for industry, has been selected by the Lockheed Martin Team for advanced Li-ion battery systems to power Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) for the production phase of the program.

The JLTV program, led by the U.S. Army, is a multi-service initiative to develop a family of next-generation, lightweight vehicles that will replace many of the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) currently used across the armed forces. JLTV will provide a family of vehicles (FOV) that are capable of performing multiple mission roles. They are designed to provide protected, sustained, networked mobility for personnel and payloads across the full range of military operations.

JLTV objectives include increased protection and performance over the current fleet minimizing ownership costs by maximizing commonality, fuel efficiency, reliability, and growth throughout the lifecycle.

Saft’s selection for the production phase follows the company’s participation as the battery supplier for the Lockheed Martin Team during the JLTV program’s engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase, and successfully completing the government’s Production Readiness Review (PRR) for the JLTV in September.

Saft’s Li-ion battery system will provide starting, lights, ignition and silent watch mission capabilities, while also producing critical mobile power to recharge personal electronics like night sights and GPS devices. The system features an advanced, lightweight design within the dimensions of a traditional lead-acid battery, enabling easy integration into the vehicle. The 28V, 60Ah battery achieves higher, more compact power and energy efficiency; enabling fewer battery replacements and reducing lifecycle costs.

“This partnership represents the growing adoption of lithium-ion battery technology to support the increasingly higher power demands of today’s modern military vehicles,” said Thomas Alcide, President of Saft America, Inc. and General Manager of Saft’s Specialty Battery Group. “Saft is pleased to demonstrate the role of our battery technology in the advancement of military vehicle performance and capabilities.”