The Nation’s Combat Logistics Support Agency

Established 1961

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

DLA

Research & Development

BATTERY NETWORK (BATTNET)

OBJECTIVE

BATTNET is a designated Defense Operational Energy Program and is managed under the

Defense ManTech Program. BATTNET improves battery logistics and performance by

developing and leveraging advanced manufacturing technologies through key industry

partnerships. The program is focused on improving the operational environment and production

supply chain, and on developing performance improvements for batteries such as better shelf life,

reduced premature disposals, increased safety, and increased availability.

The BATTNET Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) 0006-21 topic areas are:

STRATEGIC THRUSTS

INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY

WARFIGHTER ALWAYS

Program Manager: Matt Hutchens Matt.Hutchens@dla.mil

• Prototyping lighter, high performance lead-acid batteries 

with Bipolar technologies and production processes

• Safety, performance and design improvements for 

soldier and small system batteries

• Rapid Li-ion battery deactivation and recycling 

technology for critical materials

Partner projects address the following: automation, production capabilities, supportability, 

diminishing manufacturing sources and supply, lithium battery safety, advanced recycling, reducing 

acquisition costs, improving shelf life and cycle life, supply chain logistics, surge/sustainment, and 

technology transition/insertion.

MANUFACTURING AND 

AUTOMATION 

INNOVATIONS

PROCESS 

IMPROVEMENTS

ADVANCEMENT OF 

MANUFACTURING READINESS 

FOR ALTERNATIVE SUPPLIES

BATTERY 

STANDARDIZATION

SUPPLY CHAIN

MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT

TRANSFER COMMERCIAL 

TECHNOLOGY FOR USE IN 

DLA BATTERIES

OPTIMIZE DESIGN FOR 

MANUFACTURABILITY

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE 

DOMESTIC BATTERY 

SUPPLY CHAIN

• Replace obsolete legacy Nickel 

Cadmium batteries with improved 

technologies

• Cost and quality improvements for 

battery electrode manufacturing

• Automated, modern production 

capabilities for critical batteries
WARFIGHTER READINESS

THE BENEFITS

• Improves the operational energy performance for the Warfighter: 

Higher energy, increased availability, improved reliability, decreased 

logistics footprint, and reduced soldier burden

• Increases in energy density and energy capacity enable a reduction 

in the number of batteries required and the weight carried per mission 

as well as reductions in maintenance time and operational cost.

THE CHALLENGE

Current military operations and 

plans demonstrate the critical need for high 

performance batteries in all DoD equipment. 

Effective Warfighter power sources depend on 

developing and implementing new suppliers, 

production methods, new technologies and 

products to continuously improve the battery 

supply chain for DLA’s customers.

DLA RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

BATTNET PROGRAM

ACCOMPLISHMENTS & ONGOING EFFORTS

• ARMY Combat Capabilities Development 

Command (CC-DEVCOM): 

• Army Research Laboratory (ARL)

• Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC)

• Command, Control, Communication, Computers, 

Cyber Intelligence Renaissance Center (C5ISR) 

• Army Aviation and Missile Center (AVMC)

• AIR FORCE Research Laboratory (AFRL)

• NAVY Air, Surface, Underwater Systems 

Commands (NAWC, NSWC, NUWC)

• Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)

• Defense Industrial Base

• DLA Land & Maritime / DLA Aviation

• Joint Defense Manufacturing

Technology Panel (JDMTP), Electronics 

Fabrication sub-panel, Power Sources 

technical working group

• 2014 ManTech Achievement Award (BA-5790 battery) – Developed and implemented manufacturing 

technology on existing fabrication lines. 110% increase in energy capacity using CFx materials

• 2018 ManTech Achievement Award (TOW2 battery) – Developed an integrated Li-ion based power 

system that increased run time, eliminated several pieces of legacy equipment, and mitigated 

obsolescence

• Advanced manufacturing designs and processes for new lithium-ion and bipolar lead-acid power 

sources for US military vehicles, aircraft, and equipment

• New manufacturing innovations for low cost battery and materials production

Program Manager: Matt Hutchens Matt.Hutchens@dla.mil

WARFIGHTER ALWAYS

INDUSTRY AND WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIPS

https://www.dla.mil/InformationOperations/Research-And-Development/