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Print Edition StoriesWednesday, June 3, 2009
Protonex pulls in $500K for UAV fuel cell power system
By Mass High Tech staff
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Fuel cell technology maker Protonex Technology Corp. has landed a $500,000 contract award from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to continue developing high-power fuel cell systems for small unmanned aerial vehicles. The contract win adds onto an existing contract with the NRL.
Southborough-based Protonex (LON: PTX) now focuses on incorporating and testing its advanced fuel cell power system in a tactical UAV, officials said in a release. The UAV being used for the testing is a new NRL air vehicle designed specifically for long endurance and a very low noise profile, using the high efficiency fuel cell power system.
The initial contract, announced in April of 2008, brought Protonex $1.62 million. The company is trying to extend the range of an electric-powered UAV from the current three hours using batteries to 12 hours using its fuel cells.
The project will also draw from previous Protonex projects, particularly the UAV systems the company has developed for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, the Naval Research Laboratory and California-based vehicle maker AeroVironment Inc.
In March, Protonex landed a separate new contract with the U.S. Department of Defense that could be worth up to $3.3 million.
Under terms of the deal, Protonex will develop a pre-production fuel cell power system for powering small, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). that will extend flight time and mission endurance. The contract includes a $2.2 million base award with a $1.1 million option, according to the company.
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