Saft gets follow-on contract for hybrid combat vehicle

Bagnolet, France-based SAFT said today it received a follow-on contract from London's BAE Systems (LSE: BA) to supply lithium-ion batteries for the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems vehicles.

Financial terms of the multi-year contract were not disclosed.

"SAFT previously supplied batteries for the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon and the first-generation FCS vehicle," said Jim Miller, general manager of SAFT's Space and Defense Division. "This contract represents an on-going partnership between SAFT and BAE Systems and our strong commitment to the Army's FCS program."

Under the new contract, SAFT said it would provide a high voltage, 4 kilowatt battery as part of the energy storage subsystem for the Army's Manned Ground Vehicles.

SAFT said its batteries would support BAE Systems' Common Traction Drive Subsystem for the vehicles.

The company said the Traction Drive Subsystem is a series-hybrid drive system that will provide vehicle propulsion, steering and braking, and regenerate electrical power from braking and downhill grades for use in vehicle electrical systems.

BAE and General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) have been working in partnership with the Army and Science Applications International on the development of the next generation combat vehicles.

The eight manned ground vehicles in the program are being developed with a common platform design with common components and subsystems, such as a Traction Drive Subsystem.

Founded in 1918 as the Société des Accumulateurs Fixes et de Traction, SAFT's batteries are used in high performance applications such as industrial infrastructure and processes, transportation, space and defense.