Israel's Tadiran Batteries Ltd, part of Saft Group SA , said on Sunday it had been selected by BAE Systems to supply its lithium batteries for a project with the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency.
The high power, CR2-sized batteries from Tadiran will support a programme to convert 60-millimetre (2.36 inch) mortars into a precision guided munitions system, the company said in a statement.
Though Tadiran did not officially state the length or scope of the project, a market source said it concerned a multi-year, multi-million dollar project. The systems will improve US military effectiveness by providing small, operational units with precision indirect munitions systems capable of operating across multiple environments, the company said.
Tadiran is wholly owned by Saft, a French maker of high-tech batteries for industries. BAE Systems is a defence and aerospace company delivering a range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services.
Through its US subsidiary, it takes care of business in North America and is the largest foreign player in the US defence market.