Ultra Electronics, AMI Delivers 45 Fuel Cells for Use in Military UAS

ANN ARBOR, Mich., July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ultra Electronics, AMI (AMI) recently delivered 45 of its ROAMIO D245XR fuel cells for use by the U.S. military in unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The contract award for this delivery is valued at more than $2 million. The ROAMIO D245XR is the most advanced power technology available today, providing unparalleled long duration flight of more than eight hours in small UAS platforms.

The delivery is the latest in a series of multi-unit manufacturing runs of small propane-fueled solid oxide fuel cell technology.     AMI continues to follow its manufacturing plan that has successful deliveries to the U.S. Army, including 30 units to the Rapid Equipping Force (REF), 15 units to the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and 10 units to the Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC).  All branches of the U.S. military have tested AMI fuel cells.

"The integration of our ROAMIO D245XR fuel cells with UAS provides a significant strategic advantage to our warfighters in the field," said AMI president Aaron Crumm.  "Compared to other, larger UAS platforms, those powered by the ROAMIO D245XR can fly further and longer, as well as carry more sensors and equipment with a much smaller logistical footprint.  The ROAMIO D245XR weighs significantly less than a traditional battery pack or other power source, reducing the overall weight burden of putting advanced UAS payloads and flight duration capabilities into small squads and making it possible for the system to be operated by only one or two warfighters."

"This delivery continues to moves AMI beyond engineering development and into procurement, supporting the long-term strategic plans that we have with our collaborators and partners to integrate fuel cells with battlefield units," Crumm added.

The ROAMIO D245XR is designed and tested for integration with UAS weighing less than 25 lbs and with wingspans of approximately 12 ft.  The propane fuel cell system enables these UAS to be powered anywhere in the world by locally sourced fuels. 

About Ultra Electronics, AMI
Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., Ultra Electronics Adaptive Materials, Inc. (AMI) is the first company to develop, demonstrate and deliver a portable, affordable, and fuel flexible solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. The company offers 250-watt and 300-watt fuel cell systems that are powered by globally available and energy dense propane, butane and LPG. Adaptive Materials' fuel cell system provides portable power to the United States Armed Forces as well as industries including remote industrial, telecommunications, and public services. For more information, visit www.ultra-ami.com.

About Ultra Electronics
Ultra Electronics is an internationally successful defense and aerospace company with a long, consistent track record of development and growth. Ultra businesses constantly innovate to create solutions to customer requirements that are different from and better than those of the Group's competitors. The Group has over 100 distinct market or technology niches within its 24 businesses. The diversity of niches enables Ultra to contribute to a large number of defense, aerospace and civil platforms and programs and provides resilience to the Group's financial performance.

Ultra has world-leading positions in many of its niches and, as an independent, non-threatening partner, is able to support all of the main prime contractors with specialist capabilities and solutions. As a result of such positioning, Ultra's systems, equipment or services are often mission-critical to the successful operation of the platform to which they contribute. In turn, this mission-criticality secures Ultra's positions for the long term, which underpin the superior financial performance of the Group.

Ultra offers support to its customers through the design, delivery and support phases of a program. Ultra businesses have a high degree of operational autonomy where the local management teams are empowered to devise and implement competitive strategies that reflect their expertise in their specific niches. The Group has a small head office and executive team that provide to the individual businesses the same agile, responsive support that they provide to customers as well as formulating Ultra's overarching, corporate strategy.

SOURCE Ultra Electronics, AMI