MEDICAL, MILITARY & INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS Powering MilTech while I


nternational government and defence organisations have ever-changing portable power and charging requirements. New regulations by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) could cause charging issues for militaries once batteries reach their destination. Additionally, advances in military equipment bring the need for new battery solutions. Therefore, military battery manufacturer Ultralife Corporation has developed a new range of products that can help, explains Bruce Parkinson, applications engineering and inside sales manager.


20 years after introducing an air shipment guideline, which mandated that Lithium-Ion batteries shipped separately from devices must have a state-of-charge less than 30 per cent, IATA has extended the rule to include batteries that are contained within devices.


Until January 2026, government and defence organisations can ship fully charged Lithium-ion batteries inside equipment to ensure they have instantly available power when they reach their destination. However, this new rule means that all batteries will arrive partially depleted and must be quickly brought back to full capacity so they can be rapidly deployed on 


Defence organisations operating in remote areas may not have access to AC mains and, therefore, cannot use on- grid, high-power chargers to speed up charging times. Off-grid, operators are often


restricted to DC inputs from vehicles or mobile generators, systems not designed to deliver the sustained current required to recharge multiple high-capacity batteries simultaneously.


Multi-bay charging


When using single-bay chargers, operators must rotate batteries one at a time, creating bottlenecks that slow deployment. A well- designed multi-bay system allows operators to replenish several batteries simultaneously at higher currents, ensuring all units have power. For government and defence applications where readiness is measured in minutes and seconds, not hours, this is vital. However, engineering these systems is   sources, such as vehicles, since they weren’t designed to support sustained, high-power output. To overcome this, Ultralife launched the UCH0071 six-bay tactical charger, which enables charging rates of up to four amps per bay, roughly twice as fast as many conventional systems. Each bay has push buttons to set the battery’s state-of-charge to 30 per cent.


 than transporting a surplus of spare batteries to cover recharging delays, personnel can bring fewer units and  the load and streamlines supply chains.


The importance of batteries As charging systems evolve, so must batteries. Today, many military and government devices, including advanced radios, sensors and unmanned systems, often require higher current draws than  we’ve been asked about getting more power out of our UBI-2590 rechargeable batteries, which are commonly used in military communications gear. The result  deliver up to 15 or even 30 amps compared with the standard 10.


There’s still a place for the traditional solutions. For example, the UBI-2590 continues to serve applications requiring moderate capacity because it balances performance and reliability. For larger-scale power needs, 24-volt batteries that can


20 NOVEMBER 2025 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS


ensuring 2026 IATA compliance New batteries and chargers serve legal and operational military needs


be stacked together to provide 10kwhrs of storage are ideal.


These units can be combined in parallel or series to deliver higher currents without external protections. This makes them well-suited for vehicle-mounted systems or mobile command posts that require 





Capacity and current are important, but  batteries should be stored in cool, dry conditions at around 15 degrees Celsius. They work best at ambient temperatures,  temperatures are too cold, capacity is lost as chemical reactions slow down. If  and explosion.


In defence settings, missions can span arctic winters to desert summers — and this brings constant challenges. Therefore, operators must manage charge and discharge rates carefully, deploying batteries designed to withstand a wider operating range. Meanwhile, manufacturers must design power systems with environmental extremes in mind, ensuring critical equipment can continue to function reliably wherever deployed.


Changing transportation regulations and advancements in electronic devices put pressure on both charging infrastructure and batteries. Meeting these demands requires cutting-edge solutions that  batteries and rugged designs. Ultralife Corporation provides durable, reliable power and communications for  the company’s website and start an enquiry.


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