Jul 24 2006
American Superconductor Corporation has announced today it has received a $1.3 million contract extension for its second generation (2G) high temperature superconductor (HTS) wire from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). The contract was awarded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This most recent extension represents the sixth contract or contract extension American Superconductor has received for 2G HTS wire development over just the last 10 months and brings the total dollar amount of all AMSC government contracts and contract extensions for this purpose to approximately $8.1 million in that timeframe.
Targeted DOD applications for 2G HTS wire include ship propulsion electric motors and generators, degaussing cable systems, non-lethal weapons and power distribution systems for warships. AMSC is actively involved in developing components or systems for each of these applications.
"The United States government continues to strongly endorse HTS wire and its applications," said Greg Yurek, chief executive officer, American Superconductor. "Department of Defense decision makers are aware of the revolutionary impact of HTS wire. Our current work with Northrop Grumman on the development of a 36.5MW motor is a perfect example. As a result of the inclusion of our wire, we are able to build a propulsion motor that is just as powerful as similar copper-based systems, is less than half the size and one- third the weight and has much higher fuel efficiency. HTS wire will offer similar advantages in other military systems as well as in a broad range of utility and industrial applications."
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