Millennium Cell and Jadoo to power wounded soldiers' life support

Fuel cell developer Millennium Cell (NASDAQ: MCEL) is up 3% today on news that it's been awarded a contract to develop a new special 300 watt power system for the U.S. Air Force.

Working in conjuntion with its partner Jadoo Power, Millenium is to develop a hydrogen-powered system that provides 12 hours of runtime for use as a long endurance power supply for U.S. Air Force aeromedical evacuation flights.

In the fourth quarter of 2007, the two companies are to demonstrate a fuel cell system capable of powering the Air Force’s Patient Support Pallet, which is designed to improve the survivability of soldiers being evacuated from the battlefield to advanced medical facilities.

[ed.: what's a "patient support pallet?" We didn't know, either. See this.]

Jadoo Power and Millennium are actively developing Hydrogen on Demand® fuel canisters for use with Jadoo Power’s N-Gen Fuel Cell Power units and XRT Extended Runtime accessories for emergency response and other industrial and military uses.

The XRT uses six metal hydride canisters for hydrogen fuel storage today, which weigh approximately 30 total pounds. With the new chemical hydride-based fuel canister jointly developed by Millennium Cell, the XRT is expected to deliver the same runtime with approximately half the fuel canister weight.

Millennium is currently engaged in multiple programs with the Air Force, developing products which utilize the company's technology for a wide range of applications including soldier power and unmanned aerial vehicles. It's also pursuing applications in medical, industrial and consumer electronics.

Jadoo Power is a leading commercial supplier of fuel cell products to the portable power space. It's financed by MDV, Venrock Associates and Sinclair Ventures.

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