The authors review the basic characteristics of aluminum-airbatteries, describe some of the recent advances involving aluminumanodes and air cathodes, aluminum-air batteries and demonstrate certainpotential military applications. They can be transported as lightweight,collapsible batteries and can be filled with water at the site ofoperation. The alkaline Al/air battery is advantageous when a high poweris desired. The salt water battery is best suited for moderate powerdemand and to achieve multiple use, emptying and rinsing the batterybetween uses. A self-contained man-portable battery to provide satellitecommunication was also designed using alkaline electrolyte. Theoperational requirements demanded cold start-up in a half-hour from -40° C, a power output from 6 to 400 W, and an energy density of 435Wh/kg. Activation of the battery was accomplished by emptying thereservoirs on the top of the cells which contain the electrolyte. Designmodeling and demonstration test results of batteries for fieldcommunication, unmanned ground and airborne vehicles, and fieldrecharger units for Ni-Cd and lead-acid are discussed
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